During the Salem witch trials of 1692, countless individuals in the Massachusetts Bay Colony were accused of practicing witchcraft and subsequently arrested, interrogated, and put on trial. These notorious events have left a lasting impact on history, and the images associated with the Salem witch trials add an extra layer of fascination to our understanding of this dark period. The most iconic image related to the Salem witch trials is undoubtedly the portrayal of accused witches being hanged. Throughout history, the practice of hanging individuals found guilty of witchcraft has been common, and this imagery serves as a stark reminder of the brutality and injustice that occurred during this time. The thought of innocent people being executed for crimes they did not commit is chilling, and the hangings symbolize the tragic consequences of mass hysteria and false accusations. Another image that comes to mind when thinking about the Salem witch trials is that of the accused witches being subjected to pressing.
A New York Exhibition on the Salem Witch Trials Explores the Legacy of the Dark Historical Chapter on the Descendants of the Accused
"The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming" is on view at the New-York Historical Society.
Thomas Satterwhite Noble, Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr), 1869. Collection of the New-York Historical Society, gift of the children of Thomas S. Noble and Mary C. Noble, in their memory, 1939.
Magic is afoot at the New-York Historical Society, where a new exhibition revisits a dark chapter in U.S. history: the Salem Witch Trials. Between early 1692 and mid-1693, more than 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft, and 20 people were executed.
“The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming,” which originated last fall at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, is the latest offering of the historical society’s Center for Women’s History. It examines the legal proceedings in light of the role that race and gender played in the deadly affair, as well as the impact it made on descendants of the accused.
“Women were overwhelmingly the ones accused of witchcraft both in America and in Europe in the time period,” Anna Danziger Halperin, the center’s associate director, told Artnet News.
The Salem Witch Trials were an outburst of witch-phobia that followed a vogue for witch trials across Europe in the early modern period. The hysteria overtook the town and village of Salem (the latter is called Danvers today), implicating the poor and vulnerable as well as some of society’s most respected citizens.
Artist in London Sundial (1644), owned by John Proctor, one of the victims of the Salem Witch Trials. Photo by Jeffrey R. Dykes. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, gift of Abel H. Proctor, 1907.
“The first three people who were accused were women who were ostracized and easily scapegoated in the community, but from there, it spirals out,” Danziger Halperin said. “In some ways, the fact that men were also accused is part of what makes the Salem story exceptional.”
“It’s really a defining example of American intolerance and injustice—a terrible chapter in our history,” she added.
The trials created an intense climate of fear and uncertainty for the people of Salem, who never knew who the next target would be. (The accused included a four-year-old child.)
Setting an appropriately spooky tone for the show is an atmospheric soundtrack of crackling flames, howling winds, and eerie bird calls. The ambient noise plays as you approach a recreation of the Salem hearth where the tragedy all began. The daughter and niece of Reverend Samuel Parris accused Tituba, an enslaved woman from Barbados, of being a witch and causing the mysterious fits they claimed were afflicting them.
Richard Ligon, A True and Exact History of the Island of Barbados (1657). Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.
Though Tituba managed to avoid execution, the historical record offers no trace of her fate. In lieu of surviving artifacts, Danziger Halperin represented her with a colonial map of Barbados, where Tituba was enslaved before joining the Parris household.
The original Peabody Essex show drew from the museum’s collection of primary documents. In lieu of trial transcripts and other papers, the NYHS has brought in other historical manuscripts, such as a copy of the Malleus Maleficarum, or Hammer of Witches, a handbook on how to identify and kill witches, originally published in Germany in 1486.
Also on view are some of the personal belongings of Salem residents, such as a window from the home of the Towne family, whose three sisters were all among the accused. (Two were executed.)
Heinrich Institoris, Malleus Maleficarum (1669). Collection of the New-York Historical Society, Patricia D. Klingenstein Library.
“It has its own kind of eerie power,” Danziger Halperin said. “The window is this place where people could eavesdrop and see evidence and hear rumors.”
Other artifacts include a large chest that belonged to the Osborn family and a tape loom from the Putnams. Sarah Osborne was one of the first three people accused of witchcraft, likely targeted because of an inheritance dispute following the death of her first husband, a relative of the influential Putnam family. (Osborne died in jail before her trial.)
“The Putnams were really one of the most vehement proponents of accusing their neighbors,” Danziger Halperin said. “Which makes this small decorative tape loom that was used by Rebecca Putnam a really amazing artifact—it has these incredible symbols carved into the handle that are symbols of folk magic. It’s a protective amulet, which would have went against puritanical belief!”
Artist in Salem, Massachusetts, Tape loom owned by Rebecca Putnam (1690–1710). Photo by Kathy Tarantola. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, museum purchase made possible by an anonymous donor, 2001.
Existing conflicts between neighbors and families were among the tensions that bubbled to the surface as the trials picked up steam, fueled by political uncertainty and upheaval, a military conflict that brought in refugees from other parts of New England, and crop failures and disease amid a harsh winter.
“Historians use the phrase a powder keg,” Danziger Halperin said. “There’s so many different conflicts and tensions coexisting in the community, once there’s this spark that ignites it, it just explodes.”
The trials end almost as suddenly, with reason seemingly prevailing in January 1693, when a new court ruled that spectral evidence was no longer legally admissible.
Alexander McQueen, dress from the “In Memory of Elizabeth Howe, Salem, 1692” collection (2007). Photo by Bob Packert. Collection of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, gift of anonymous donors in London who are friends of the Peabody Essex Museum, 2011.
A powerful addition from the museum’s own collection closes the show: Thomas Satterwhite Noble’s massive painting Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr) (1869). The model for the woman being executed was a descendant of a woman who was hung as a witch in Salem.
The exhibition also brings the story of the trials into the 21st century, with bodies of work by two Salem descendants who have embraced witchcraft in ways that their ancestors could never have imagined.
The late fashion designer Alexander McQueen dedicated his 2007 fall/winter collection to his ancestor Elizabeth How, who was put to death as a witch, creating garments that incorporated symbolism of witchcraft, the occult, and tarot cards.
Frances F. Denny, Keavy, Brooklyn, New York (2016) from “Major Arcana: Portraits of Witches in America.” Courtesy of the artist and Clamp Art, New York.
And then there are portraits of modern-day witches—women who have embraced elements of witchcraft and magic—shot by New York photographer Frances F. Denny, a descendant of Samuel Sewall, one of the judges who oversaw the trials.
“There’s a huge difference between being accused of being a witch and claiming it on your own as a religious or political identity,” Danziger Halperin said. “These women do call themselves witches, and some lay claim to long historical roots in witchcraft practices and different kinds of traditions. It shows that witch doesn’t have to be this dirty word—magic doesn’t have to be this evil incarnate kind of power.”
“The Salem Witch Trials: Reckoning and Reclaiming” is on view at the New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way (77th Street), New York, New York, October 7, 2022–January 22, 2023.
Salem witch trials
The play The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, is based on the Salem witch trials.
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Another image that comes to mind when thinking about the Salem witch trials is that of the accused witches being subjected to pressing. This torturous method involved placing heavy stones on the body of the accused until they either confessed or succumbed to the weight. The mental and physical anguish endured by those labeled as witches is palpable through the depiction of pressing.
Introduction
© North Wind Picture ArchivesThe Salem witch trials were a series of investigations and persecutions that occurred from June 1692 to May 1693 in the town of Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now Danvers, Massachusetts). The proceedings led to the hanging of 19 suspected witches and the imprisonment of many others.
This image serves as a grim reminder of the extreme measures taken to extract confessions and extract information during the trials. In addition to the haunting images of punishment, there are also depictions of the accused witches themselves. Portraits and drawings of individuals accused of practicing witchcraft provide a glimpse into the lives of the people caught up in the frenzy of the trials. These images capture the fear, confusion, and desperation of those who faced unfounded accusations. Looking at their faces, we can't help but wonder what thoughts and emotions were running through their minds as they faced the wrath of their accusers. Tituba, an enslaved woman from Barbados, is one of the most well-known figures from the Salem witch trials. Imagery associated with Tituba often portrays her as a mysterious and exotic figure, emphasizing the racist attitudes prevalent during the trials. These images underline the vulnerability and marginalization experienced by individuals who did not conform to societal norms and were easy targets for accusations of witchcraft. The images related to the Salem witch trials give us a visual representation of this dark chapter in history. They evoke feelings of fear, injustice, and a profound sense of loss. These visuals serve as a potent reminder of the dangers of mass hysteria, the power of fear, and the devastating consequences that can arise when justice is abandoned..
Reviews for "Unforgettable Moments: Images from the Salem Witch Trials"
1. Jennifer - 1 star
The "Salem witch trial images" were extremely disturbing and unsettling. As someone who values justice and the rights of individuals, it was disheartening to see the horrifying ways innocent people were accused and persecuted during that time. The images depicted the sheer cruelty and ignorance of society. While I understand the importance of remembering historical events, such graphic depictions only perpetuate a culture of fear and misunderstanding.
2. Michael - 2 stars
I found the "Salem witch trial images" to be excessive and unnecessary. The graphic content was disturbing and not suitable for all audiences. While I believe in the importance of educating oneself about history, I felt that these images crossed a line and were more sensationalist than informative. There are better ways to explore this dark chapter in American history without resorting to shock value.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was disappointed with the "Salem witch trial images" as they seemed to focus more on the sensationalism of the events rather than the historical context. The morbid and graphic imagery overshadowed the significance of the trials. I would have preferred a more nuanced and educational approach, rather than being subjected to disturbing visuals that left me feeling disturbed and unsettled.
4. Chris - 1 star
The "Salem witch trial images" were deeply distressing and seemed to exploit the suffering of those involved. Instead of shedding light on the complexities of the trials, these images sensationalized the violence and injustice. The focus should have been on understanding the societal factors that contributed to this dark period in history, rather than showcasing grotesque and graphic imagery.
5. Amanda - 2 stars
I found the "Salem witch trial images" to be gratuitously violent and exploitative. While it is important to remember and learn from history, these images seemed to prioritize shock value over education. They left me feeling disturbed and did not contribute positively to my understanding of the Salem witch trials. There are better ways to explore this historical topic without resorting to graphic and disturbing imagery.