Post mortem photography has fascinated me for a very long time. I’m not sure whether it’s a way of confronting innermost fears or more base, voyeuristic instincts, but many people I know feel the same way. Death is so feared that to look on its reality is an odd sensation.
The Victorians were very keen on facing death head on – for all their prissy ways with sexual and social conventions, death was never hidden from view. The body of the deceased was often kept in the family home until burial, with all remaining family members (including children) in close contact with it.
Personally I feel that this approach is healthier (mentally at least; the hygiene angle of having a body hanging around during the summer months isn’t one I want to think about for too long) than our ‘modern’ way of keeping death behind clean and tidy closet doors.
The Victorian habit of displaying their dead almost as dolls is, however, something I’m still not sure about.
I have kept child and adult photographs separate in order to give readers a chance to decide for themselves which photos they wish to see.
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nb – in most cases I have not given source details for individual photographs. They each appear in many different places on the internet (and with minimal searching) and it is therefore impossible to define ownership in most instances. If you believe that you hold copyright of any images I have reproduced please get in touch and I will be happy to edit details as appropriate.
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Thanks for sharing the photos and your thoughts. I’ve long been intrigued by death, cemeteries, and all things related. Until earlier this week I didn’t realize that taking post mortem photos was done, but there’s no reason it wouldn’t be, except that it does have sort of a morbid tinge to it.
I’m glad to discover I’m not alone in my fascination, which dates back to early childhood. I’ve been scorned for it for most of my 55 years, and am pleased to see kindred spirits.
You are most definitely not alone, Jeanine. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and welcome to the Skull