Henry Hargreaves has put together a collection of pictures recreating some of the oddest requests inmates made hours before they were executed. I love the fact that you can see a little corner of their odd personalities. Henry restaged each meal in his studio, with everything down to the table cloth and cutlery matching the era of the execution. The inmates themselves — who were refused alcohol — could only receive a meal costing up to £25.
Henry said: “I tried to recreate the meals as if the prisoner had just sat down to eat and they are looking into their plate. Different prisons, different states and different eras all meant I had to create very different settings for each one. I only picked the most bizarre last meals such as the guy who ordered just a single olive, which easily had to be the strangest. There has been some speculation on the significance of this as an olive is believed to be a symbol of rebirth, so to be buried with an olive pit in your stomach is an interesting notion.”
The photographer focused on death row inmates in America, where an estimated 3,000 people are currently waiting to be executed.
According to the L.A. Times, Attorney General John Ashcroft wants to take “a harder stance” on the death penalty. What’s a harder stance on the death penalty? We’re already killing the guy? How do you take a harder stance on the death penalty? What, are you going to tickle him first? Give him itching powder? Put a thumbtack on the electric chair? Jay Leno, The Tonight Show
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Macabre, but very interesting. Makes you think…
I grew up in a prison town, and this is fascinating.
Unusual subject to photograph, but definitely interesting.
Great series.
Interesting and a little sad.
Wonderful post! I do wonder if I’m the only one that got a bit choked up about it. Not at all to excuse or lessen the severity of what anyone did, but the one for Rector, who was saving the pie for later, got me. Was it a flippant comment or a way to self-soothe the way we do? Interesting.