[ The Thanatos Archive ] Post Mortem Photography Vol 1: Daguerreotypes

Vol 1: Daguerreotypes (1840s-1850s)

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Jack

[HG-gjlh]

All those babies that barely got to live. How tragic, yet beautiful that they can still be admired and remembered all these years later.

[courtneycook]

When my great grandma was a kid back in the 1920s her brother died of an infected blister on his foot from wearing new shoes. If they had antibiotics back then, he would had lived. He was only 8 or 9 years old.

[eryntheempath]

Each picture filled with so much emotion. You can see the hurt in the family’s face.

[ivorybow]

These sad photos are a cure for any belief that life was better in the "good old days." I am grateful to live in a time when the deaths of babies and children, mothers in childbirth, and young people are rare. I wonder how many of these people passed due to tuberculosis, the scourge of their time. And the babies dying of fever and respiratory infections that a quick trip to urgent care can now remedy. Beautiful record of those times, thank you.

[wendybutler]

I've lost my son. I cannot imagine wanting an image of him in death. Or having to see that image daily. I want to remember him full of life.

[hvrtguys]

My grandmother who was born in 1903 told me that in the past they did not give you a name until you were a one year old. You were just called baby until then. Babies died frequently so you did not want to get to emotionally attached to them.

[teslagirl]

Some people find these creepy...some fascinating...but if you really look, you'll see tenderness and the heartbreak of people whose loss cut so deep that having this final...and perhaps only...image of their loved one was their only comfort. It's really a sad, yet beautiful thing.

[barbarajolley]

When I first found the postmortem photographs from the 19th century, I was sad and curious why it was done. My husband had the great response: "at the time, photography was expensive, done in a studio. These photographs for some were the only reminders that these family members existed..." I saw some photographs of my relatives from earlier in the 20th century. It is not as common now. May all the people in these photographs Rest in Peace.

[FeralSheryl]

The photographers did the best they could and with great respect. We all take things for granted today. That cost a lot of money for the family and the only image they had of their loved one. It wasn't affordable. TY for sharing this part of history.

[susangordon]

Part of me wants to think these photos are terribly ghoulish yet I find myself captivated by them. There is beauty and art to this style of photography. Thank you for sharing them with us.

[penelopelopez]

The mother holding her head up with her hand as she stares at her deceased baby. That one was heartbreaking.

[debramaione]

So sad, So many babies, little children that died never got a chance to live. They look like they're sleeping angels😇 R.I.P🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️

[carolyndee]

WOW! What a collection of photos? I cannot imagine how difficult it would have been for a parent or parents to have photos taken with their deceased child. In some shots, some of the people don't look dead. All those precious children. A different time. A different era. The music is beautiful.

[ednaatluxton]

The babies and children are the hardest to look at. So innocent like they're sleeping. So many died in infancy and childhood and family never had photos until these were taken. We should be thankful today for cameras, androids etc. I take dozens of pics of my now grown autistic son every week plus video.

[kritzkrieg]

This is so sad but also, so calming because it looks like they're asleep.
But they're not. Kinda make us ponder on our own mortality.

[susanb]

They didn't have any pictures of their children because it was too expensive. They took the pictures to remember their precious babies

[sylviacarlson]

That last one of the boy with his eyes wide open. He doesn't look dead at all.

[sclark-ldgh]

I know these photographs seem gruesome and terrifying but sometimes families want something to remember their loved ones. Some of the babies and young children are so peaceful, they look like angels.

[DafTaf]

Looking at those babies and children is so saddening. They were so beautiful.

[lynnesymmonds]

All those beautiful children who didn’t have a life. So very sad.