Figure 1.-- Post-mortem photography was especially common with children, although there were also post-mortem portraits of older family members. A factor may have been that so many children died young of now easily prevented or cured diseases. in those times died early because of incurable diseases. Many of these photographs are very sad. The children look so peaceful, often with carefully folded hands.

We note one common type of photography in the 19th century that has disappeared today. We note large numbers of post-mortem photos diring the 19th and beginning 20th century. We note this phenomenon both in Europe and America. Ther may have been differences among countries or religious groups, but we do not know enough about the topic to draw any firm conclusions. They seem to be somewaht more common for Catholics. Many of these photographs are very sad. The children look so peaceful, often with carefully folded hands. The poor little boy here is German (figure 1). A German reader writes, "I guess this portrait it to be from about 1900. Interestingly I noted several German post mortems where the hands are carefully folded like this. Often there are rosaries and therefore look 'more dead'. American pictures are more like the deceased is 'peacefully sleeping'". I am not sure why this was so common, but many people wanted these photograhs to remember their loved ones. It was especially common with children, although there were also post-mortem pprtraits of older family members. A factor may have been that so many children died young of now easily prevented or cured diseases. in those times died early because of incurable diseases. After World war I these portraits became much less common. I'm unsure why this convention disappeared at why the change occurred after Word War I.

Created: June 25, 2001
Last updated: November 21, 2002