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.