John Herbert Dillinger Poster

This is a portrait of John Dillinger taken by Tucson, Arizona police after he was captured there in January 1934. The photo was taken six months before his death in July 1934 at age 31. It is apparent that hard time in prison and, later, tumultuous time evading capture took a heavy toll on him. You won't find a photograph of him anywhere, possibly, that is of high resolution and blemish free as this one (given the small size of his crime photos and the photo technology constraints of the era). John Dillinger was well aware of his predicament .... and, he said to a friend if he surrendered it was the electric chair ... if he went on, it was just a question of time a few months before his death at the hands of the FBI outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. Of particular interest is the confident visage, slight grin, and the haunting, penetrating gaze in this photo. John Dillinger, the most famous Bank Robber and criminal in history, captured for all eternity and ready to make a statement hanging in your home, office, or establishment.