Murder Case Photographs: #7

Murder Case Photographs: #7

1953

Some of the photographs here were chosen because of their personification of one of the human characteristics. Grief and Strength were never so movingly depicted in any art medium as in photograph #4 in this series. This photograph could be titled simply "Dejection."

This man has just been arrested for murder and took the silver medal in a battle with a nightstick. He is bent half over, he sits barely, his upper body held up only by his straightened arm against the bench. His chest is bare and streaked with dried blood. The dressing is still on his head wound. He stares off.

There is a reminder in this photograph of the same dejected condition in a famous work of art,"Defeated Gaul," I think.

-Benjamin Harris