Jurors Listening to Counsel, Supreme Court, New City Hall, New York 1869

Editor: This print, "Jurors Listening to Counsel, Supreme Court, New City Hall, New York," by an anonymous artist, depicts a courtroom scene. The somber mood and the attentive gazes of the jurors really strike me. What symbols do you see at play here? Curator: The hats! Notice the many top hats left on the bench. In the 19th century, hats symbolized social status and respectability. Their removal here signifies the solemnity of the judicial process, a temporary shedding of worldly concerns for impartial judgment. How does that influence your perception? Editor: It adds another layer of seriousness to the scene. Knowing this, I see the drawing as a historical document about civic duty. Thank you for pointing out those details.