The "Well," for Violators of State Law
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1797
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This dark scene shows two men in a grimy prison cell. One is lying on the floor, half-dead, while another stands with a torch, pointing it toward a crumbling wall. The wall has shelves and a small window high up, letting in almost no light. A third figure sits slumped in the corner, hands covering their face. The text below says this is a "well" for prisoners who broke state laws. The artist used shading to make the scene feel heavy and hopeless. Want to know more? Check out etching to see how artists create dramatic prints like this.
