The artwork “Southern Justice (Murder in Mississippi),” created by Norman Rockwell in 1965, is an oil on canvas and is considered a significant piece within the Social Realism movement. It measures 53 by 42 inches and falls under the genre painting category. Currently, the artwork is housed at The Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge.
This compelling work by Rockwell portrays a distressing and poignant scene presumably set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States. It depicts two men, one of whom is lying motionless on the ground, appearing to be dead, with their attire and disheveled appearance suggesting a violent altercation has taken place. The standing man holds another, who has been grievously injured, in his arms, conveying a sense of urgency and despair. The setting is stark and desolate, characterized by a dark backdrop that amplifies the somber mood of the tableau. The figures are rendered with meticulous detail, and the somber color palette heightens the sense of tragedy and injustice conveyed by the piece. Rockwell, in this artwork, moves away from his more traditional themes to confront the viewer with a harrowing moment, compelling an examination of the social and moral issues of his time.