Did Victorians take post mortem photos?

As you might expect, Victorian death photos are often easy to identify because of their lack of blurring. After all, subjects in these portraits did not blink or shift suddenly. Unlike many portraits, which were taken in photo studios, post-mortem photos were usually taken at home.

When were post mortem photos popular?

These postmortem photographs, as they are known, were popular from the mid-19th through the early-20th centuries—common enough to grace mantelpieces.

Why did they take post-mortem pictures?

Post-Mortem Photography was done in preparation to have a printed photo of your dead family member to proudly display in the home. In the unfortunate event of a loved one dying, it would be considered unusual, or perhaps even frowned upon, if we were to take a photograph of their body or face.

Why did people do post-mortem photos?

In an era when photos were expensive and many people didn’t have any pictures of themselves when they were alive, post-mortem photography was a way for families to remember their deceased loved ones. Americans kept the photos in hard cases that they might display on their mantel or keep in private.

Why do people take post-mortem photos?

Is it disrespectful to take pictures at a funeral?

In general, it is wise to avoid taking pictures at a funeral or a memorial service unless you have been specifically asked to do so by the deceased’s family. Deciding to snap a few candids of the cousins gathered together can create tension and ruin the mood at the service.

Are there any post mortem photos in the Victorian era?

The problem is that many of these so-called post-mortem photographs are simply regular Victorian photography featuring subjects who were very much alive when the photos were taken. Warning: some may find some of the photographs below disturbing.

What was the purpose of post mortem photography?

While it may sound macabre today, countless families used post-mortem photos to memorialize their lost loved ones.

Why do post mortem photos look blurry after death?

The swelling and discoloration that often sets in after death meant that most deceased subjects would never look like “normal” even in a blurry black and white photo. Keep this in mind when presented with an “authentic” post-mortem photo where the subject appears almost as if alive.

Is the baby propped up in post mortem photos?

Another common misconception is that a child propped up with the help of an adult just out of shot are also post-mortem photos. In reality, mothers often held their (live) babies in covert poses during the shoots so that the main focus of the subject was not diluted by the presence of another person in the finished product.