"Stairwell, Asylum" - New York

This drawing depicts the original second story staircase of Blackwell Lunatic Asylum - located on Roosevelt Island - in New York City's East River. The asylum gained notoriety in 1887 when journalist Nellie Bly went undercover as a patient in hopes of gaining a first-hand look at the life of a "lunatic". In her book, Ten Days In a Mad-House, Bly exposed the abuse and neglect of the patients by the hands of the overseers of the asylum. At one time, the asylum housed over 1,700 inmates - more than twice its designed capacity. The building was incorporated into the Metropolitan Hospital in 1894, and was eventually closed in 1955. The building has since been renovated and reopened in April 2006 as a (most certainly haunted) residential site. 

This print is a reproduction of a drawing made by Kat Jetté in 2020. The image is printed on Epson archival matte paper and packaged with a foamcore backing. 

Image size: 4 x 6"

Paper size: 8 x 10”

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