Momento Mori

Post-Mortem Photography was popular in the 19th and 20th centuries. They were taken to treasure a loved one who had passed. Death was much more common in the 19th century and often happened in the home rather than at a hospital or care facility. At the time when photography was still relatively rare, it was believed that having a photograph of your loved one deceased, was better than none at all. The photographs were precious to families and were often made into lockets to be carried by the grieving families. 

Child mortality was exponentially higher around this time period and were, tragically, the most common subject for Momento Mori. When a child was photographed, the practice was specifically called “Little Angels”. The children were featured in very tender poses; sleeping in cribs with toys or flowers, or being held lovingly by their mother for example. 

Posing the dead wasn’t as easy a task as it seems. As rigor mortis set in, belts, pulleys, and levers were often employed to ensure the deceased was properly posed. While some families preferred their loved ones to look asleep, a much easier job for the photographer, some preferred the “alive” feel. So the photographer would gently arranged the deceased, using clothing, blankets, and furniture to hide the supports. Glass eyes were used should the family wish their loved one looked alive. 

With the advances in medicine, steadily declining mortality rate, and increase in photography ease and availability, post-mortem photography has fallen out of practice. However, it is safe to safe that photos have remained the most popular way to remember a lost loved one.