The Library Of Congress Just Released 40 Years Of Insane Courtroom Art
This might just give you a new appreciation for the oft-unsung art form.
Some courtrooms around the United States and elsewhere employ courtroom sketch artists to illustrate dramatic moments in a trial.
Before cameras were invented, this was a commonplace, of course - how else would they capture the intensely emotional visuals of a courtroom scene? Even with the invention of cameras, many judges still won't allow photographs to be taken in their courtrooms, due to the tendency to distract all involved in the trial. Now, cameras are allowed in many courtrooms around the US, but some judges will still refuse the presence of a photographer. In these instances, sketch artists are used.
Recently, the Library of Congress gained 96 pieces of amazing courtroom sketch art.
The pieces date back as far as the Charles Manson trial and capture some of the most emotional moments from some of the most important trials of the last 50 years. Courtroom sketch art is clearly an incredible art form, and these sketches make me want to go sit in on some trials and doodle a bit.
John DeLorean gets acquitted on drug trafficking charges, August 16, 1984). The emotion is nearly tangible.
John DeLorean, the man behind the iconic car from "Back to the Future," was one on trial for agreeing to front $1.8 billion dollars to fund a drug smuggling operation. It turned out he was entrapped by the FBI, and was cleared of all charges. This illustration shows DeLorean and his wife passionately embracing each other in the wake of the good news. This is an amazing illustration and use of white space, and it probably captures the emotion of the moment better than video or photography could.
Larry Flynt looks on as his case - Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell - is heard before the Supreme Court, December 2, 1987.
This image captures the gravity of the trial - which led to a landmark decision on the First Amendment. When Larry Flynt's Hustler Magazine published a parody of evangelic preacher Jerry Falwell, Falwell sued Hustler for libel. Falwell won the case and was awarded $150,000 in damages. The Supreme Court later reversed the decision, and it was a major win for free speech, particularly for securing the right to parody public figures.
Barry Madoff is escorted to prison, March 12, 2009.
This is another amazing example of capturing the courtroom drama. Notice how there are no faces showing in the illustration, but we still get a very particular sense of justice (for the viewer) and shame (for Madoff, who we can recognize from his hair) after Madoff pleaded guilty to perpetrating a Ponzi scheme, which turned out to be the largest fraud in history. This example also shows how speed is key for courtroom artists - the illustrator had to quickly capture the details of the moment before it passed.
Abu Hamza sits in trial, May 7, 2014.
12 days after this illustration was made, Hamza was convicted on 11 terrorism-related charges by a Federal jury in Manhattan. This sketch shows the importance of angle to a courtroom artist - the artist was able to capture Hamza's prosthetic limb, which allows the viewer to either sympathize with Hamza or think him more sinister, depending on your view.
Mark Felt testifies in the Watergate trial.
Mark Felt, who was revealed in 2005 to be Deep Throat - the secret informant who gave information to The Washington Post about the Watergate scandal - is drawn here as he's interviewed by lawyer John Win in the Stans-Mitchell trial. Here, it's worth noting that Felt is colorized while the attorney is not; this is representative of the audience's focus in the trial - all eyes were on the mysterious Felt.
Charles Manson takes the stand in a Los Angeles courtroom.
In 1971, Manson, leader of the notorious Manson Family, was convicted on several counts of murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Manson is now infamous not only as a murderer and cult leader, but also for having a swastika carved into his forehead. When this illustration was made, it was still an "X." Notable here is Manson's posture - the defensive is displaying defensive body language. It's amazing what a simple illustration of a courtroom can convey.