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Exploring Victorian Post-mortem Photography

Apr 25, 2025

Post-mortem Photography: the Edge Where Life Meets Death?

Authors

  • Melania Borgo: University of Insubria, Italy
  • Marta Licata: University of Insubria, Italy
  • Silvia Iorio: University Sapienza, Rome, Italy

Abstract

  • Post-mortem photography began as a way to perpetuate the memory of deceased individuals.
  • Victorians used it to create eternal images of loved ones.
  • Questions arise about whether these photos portray life or death.
  • The paper examines iconographic styles, photographic techniques, and religious/ethical reasons for post-mortem photos during the Victorian Age.

Introduction

  • Post-mortem photos originated in England during Victorian times, spreading to Europe and the USA.
  • Initially not widely studied until the 1950s.
  • Scholars debated its origins, with some attributing it to the USA.
  • Victorians saw it as a way to honor and eternalize the deceased.
  • Post-mortem photography was a significant milestone in the development of photography, making it accessible to lower classes.

Methods

  • Historical literature and British newspapers from the Victorian era were studied.
  • Analysis of photographs and interviews with museum curators were conducted.

Results

Iconographical Styles

  • First Style: "The Last Sleep"

    • Deceased portrayed as if asleep to conceal death.
    • Symbols like crucifixes and flowers often included.
    • Visiting cards showed photos of the dying and the deceased.
  • Second Style: "Alive but Dead"

    • Deceased eyes open, appearing alive.
    • Techniques to manipulate body to simulate life.
    • Was used for propaganda, especially in portraying captured prisoners.
  • Third Style: Hidden Among the Living

    • Deceased positioned among living family members, often hard to identify.
    • Lack of typical funeral symbols.
  • Potential Fourth Style: "Hidden Mother"

    • Involves living children with hidden mothers holding them, often used to portray dead children as alive.

Discussion

  • The first style blurs the line between life and death.
  • As photography became more common, the necessity for post-mortem photos declined.
  • The practice reflected Victorians' acceptance of death, despite modern misconceptions of it being macabre.
  • Techniques improved over time, leading to lifelike representations.
  • These photos were not just about death but preserving the identity and dignity of the deceased.
  • The practice transitioned from post-mortem to funeral photography, emphasizing the funeral over the dead.

Conclusions

  • Post-mortem photography served as a significant cultural practice during the Victorian era.
  • It symbolized an acceptance of death and worked against the eventual forgetting of loved ones.
  • Modern perceptions might misinterpret the practice, which was not intended as macabre but as a way to honor and remember the deceased.

References

  • Includes works by notable authors such as Diane Arbus, Zygmunt Bauman, Philippe Aris, and more.

Biographical Notes

  • Silvia Iorio: Medical Anthropologist focusing on history of medicine and health inequalities.
  • Melania Borgo: Specializes in clinical ethics, cultural anthropology, and medical history.
  • Marta Licata: An archaeologist and anthropologist focusing on funeral archaeology and physical anthropology.