Unknown American
Death and Laughter

CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Death and Laughter
  • from the binder Ads, press, and IDs
Date1936
MediumGelatin silver print
DimensionsImage: 6 1/8 × 7 1/2 in. (15.5 × 19 cm)
Sheet: 6 5/8 × 8 7/16 in. (16.8 × 21.5 cm)
Credit LineBarbara Levine and Paige Ramey Collection, museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund
Object number2020.137.18.71
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 208
On view

Explore Further

Department
Photography
Object Type
Description


Though it seems like a photograph of three friends, a closer look reveals the handcuffs that link the three prisoners seated on a single bench. These prisoners, Albert Cook, John Fiorenza, and William Junior, are riding the train to one of New York’s most famous prisons, Sing Sing. All three men were convicted of murder and were headed for either a life sentence in the prison or for the electric chair.



ProvenanceBarbara Levine and Paige Ramey; purchased by MFAH, 2020.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.

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