How creative and at the same time terribly "ugly" humanity is. Of course, anyone can criticize such a statement, but a modern resident will most quickly condemn the deeds of people from the past, which in his humble opinion look simply monstrous! For example, a posthumous photo or a creepy memento can surprise anyone or everyone who was not ready for this. Yes, these are photographs of living people next to deceased relatives or acquaintances while they were still alive. And it was not always possible to immediately distinguish those who were truly alive. This is forever with us.
What do we value during life?
Throughout our lives, we strive to capture moments that are especially meaningful to us. Pictures with friends, families, on holidays or while traveling remind us of happy times. However, what to do when a loved one passes away and the only way to preserve their image is through a photograph after death? In the 19th century, this issue was resolved through post-mortem photography.
Post-mortem photography
Post-mortem photography, or post-mortem photography, became a common custom in the 19th century, and was especially popular during the Victorian era due to the high infant mortality rate. This type of photography was a way to preserve the memory of the deceased, especially if no photographs had been taken during their lifetime. Post-mortem photographs often depicted the deceased in poses that imitated living people. They could be seated, positioned, or laid down in such a way as to create the illusion of life. The eyes of the deceased were often uncovered, their faces were made up, and their bodies were dressed in their best clothes. Although today it seems wild, at that time it was practically the norm.
Photographing deceased children and newborns
Photographs of children occupied a special place in post-mortem photography. In the 19th century, infant mortality was extremely high, and many parents lost their children at an early age. Post-mortem photographs of children served as the last memory of them. Parents sought to capture their little ones in order to preserve at least some memory. Such photographs were especially valuable for families experiencing loss.
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A Creepy Reminder and Other Fads of Past Centuries
A postmortem photo is just one of the faddish moments of the past century that seems creepy to us today. In the 19th century, people had a different attitude towards death and memory. Postmortem photographs became a kind of cultural phenomenon, reflecting the times when death was an integral part of everyday life. At a time when instant photography did not yet exist, each photograph was unique and valuable, even if it depicted the deceased.
Impact on world culture
Although post-mortem photography has long gone out of fashion, it has left its mark on world culture. These images serve as historical documents, allowing us to look into the past and understand how people treated death and memory. Today, collectors collect post-mortem photographs, seeing in them something more than just creepy images. They become part of the cultural heritage, helping to preserve the memory of those who lived and passed away before us. The topic of post-mortem photography is touched upon in the well-known world films "The Others" and "Posthumously".
Such, although creepy, pictures remind us of the value of life and memory. They show that even in the most difficult moments, people strive to preserve the memories of their loved ones. This practice, although terrible at first glance, carries a deep meaning and helps to understand how our ancestors coped with loss and cherished the memory of those they loved.