As professional photo restorers and photo repairers, we have the privilege – and sometimes surprise – to work on precious and also unusual images. Perhaps one of the most surprising class of images we are asked to work on are the pictures taken of people after they have passed away.
Morbid? Bad Taste? Perhaps. Or, as the New York Times noted recently in an article, these days there is an iPhone at every death bed and a growing acceptance of this arresting idea (https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/18/style/iphone-death-portraits.html)
So what is the history of this somewhat strange practice?
In the annals of photographic history, there exists a genre both eerie and poignant: death portraits. These solemn images, capturing deceased individuals in repose, serve as a testament to the Victorian era's complex relationship with mortality and remembrance. From adults to children, these haunting photographs provide a glimpse into a bygone era's attitudes toward death and mourning rituals.
During the mid-19th century, photography was emerging as a powerful medium for capturing life's fleeting moments. In an era marked by high mortality rates, particularly among infants and young children, death was an ever-present reality. Families sought solace in preserving the memory of their departed loved ones through post-mortem photography.
Death portraits of adults often depicted the deceased in a serene, lifelike pose, as if in peaceful slumber. Carefully arranged with flowers, wreaths, or religious symbols, these images served as a final tribute to the departed. The practice was not exclusive to the affluent; even middle-class families would commission post-mortem photographs to commemorate their loved ones.
Long exposure times for taking photographs meant that oftentimes photos taken of the dead were more sharp than the living. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-36389581
However, it was the death portraits of children that evoke the deepest sense of pathos. Often dressed in their finest attire, with cherubic faces adorned with flowers or toys, these images capture the innocence and vulnerability of young lives cut tragically short. In an era before widespread vaccination and modern medical advancements, childhood mortality rates were alarmingly high, making death portraits a common sight in family albums.
Despite their somber subject matter, death portraits were not intended to be morbid or macabre. Instead, they were viewed as a means of confronting and coming to terms with death's inevitability. By capturing the deceased in a dignified manner, these photographs provided a sense of closure and comfort to grieving families, allowing them to hold on to memories that would otherwise fade with time.
As photography technology advanced and societal attitudes toward death evolved, the practice of post-mortem photography gradually declined. By the early 20th century, death portraits had largely fallen out of favor, replaced by more conventional forms of memorialization.
Yet, the legacy of death portraits endures as a reminder of the fragility of life and the enduring power of photography to preserve memories. In an age where digital images are ubiquitous and easily shared, these solemn photographs serve as silent witnesses to a bygone era's profound reverence for the departed.
And if you have such a portrait in your family, there is no reason why is should not be restored and preserved. In may be the only image you have of that important relative.