22 May What is Post-Mortem Photography?

The advent of photography rocked the Victorian world. Photography was more accessible to the middle- and lower-class populations; it was faster and cheaper than paintings and other available portrait options. Photographers began popping up all over the world and were ready to photograph almost anything, even post-mortem photography. In Photography: A Cultural History, Mary Warner Marien writes:

An 1848 American article declared that “in our great cities, a daguerreotypist is to be found in almost every square; and there is scarcely a county in any state that has not one or more of these industrious individuals busy at work catching “the shadow ere the ‘substance fade.” The idea of securing the shadow, or image, before the sitter deceased was not always possible; it sometimes meant commissioning images of dead people. 

Victorians viewed death differently than we do; they were a little obsessed with it. It’s easy to see why. Disease, war, short lifespans–death was inevitable because it was everywhere. Victorians valued pieces of “memento mori,” a Latin phrase for “remember you must die.” For instance, it was a common practice to keep a loved one’s locket of hair in a piece of jewelry. Post-mortem photography was another ritual in their mourning process. 

Why Post-Mortem Photography?

Even though photography was more available and affordable than its predecessors, most people only had their portraits taken on special occasions. There were few opportunities to have their photo taken when they were alive, especially when it came to children. Post-mortem photography allowed family members to capture an image memorializing their deceased loved ones. It helped families process and cope with death; they could refer to the image whenever they needed comfort. Post-mortem photos were usually placed in a prominent spot within the home.

For many, post-mortem photography served as a document providing proof of death and identifying a body. Death certificates were not common in the 19th century, and a post-mortem photo often helped verify one’s passing. People would also send photos to family members who could not see the body before the burial. 

The photos were usually taken in one of two ways: open casket or staged. For open casket photos, the deceased would either be by themselves or with family members gathered around the coffin. Some family members placed mementos in the deceased’s hands–toys, flowers, jewelry, family photos, etc. 

Staged photos were a little more involved. Some people were propped up in a chair, laying on someone’s lap, leaning against a relative, or even laying on the floor. They were dressed in their best clothes and were often surrounded by precious keepsakes. Their eyes were either open or closed. If they were closed, some photographers painted eyes on their eyelids (to mixed results). Photographers sometimes hand-tinted the photos (i.e. blush on cheeks) to give them a lifelike appearance. 

If you aren’t sure if a photo is post-mortem or not, check the person’s sharpness. Early photos required long exposure times, and people had to remain as still as possible. There were devices used on the living to help keep them steady. Despite their best efforts at keeping still, their portrait may have been a little soft because of their breathing or a slight shift in posture. In a post-mortem photo, the subject is almost always fully sharp.

A Different Kind of Post-Mortem Photo

Some families honored their dead by commissioning posthumous portraits: a portrait made from a previous photo. Family members would use photos taken prior to someone’s death and hire a photographer to create an enlarged photo, usually a crayon portrait. 

A photographer would use the image as a negative for a new print. They would isolate the deceased from a group photo to create a single image, or they would add a solo portrait to additional portraits to create a group photo. Many family members used this method to unite a couple in a photo, and it’s common to see one person slightly younger than the other if they died young. The original photos were most likely taken at different times.

Post-Mortem Photos Today

A lot of people find 19th- and 20th-century post-mortem photography to be creepy or weird. However, some people continued to take post-mortem photos even when it fell out of fashion. Parents who have lost children cherish any photos of their babies. Today, people plan elaborate, thoughtful photo shoots with the deceased and their families. Others take a cell phone photo of a loved one’s hand to remember and honor them.

For genealogists, post-mortem photos present valuable information. It provides a glimpse into how 19th- and 20th-century families honored the deceased; it provides a connection to the past. It’s often shocking to stumble upon a post-mortem photo if you aren’t ready for it. However, once you get past the initial jolt, you can start to evaluate the photo for clues and importance. In the words of Emily Brontë, “Any relic of the dead is precious, if they were valued living.”