Collage of historical images and cartoons of the American Civil War

Visual Culture of the American Civil WarA Special Feature of Picturing US History

Post-mortem portrait, woman holding baby

Nineteenth-century photography's commercial success was due largely to the personal portraits. Beginning in the 1840s, Americans wanted their "likenesses" taken and flocked to photographic studios in major cities and small towns (or to itinerant practitioners traveling in more remote areas) for their individual and family portraits. A grimmer side of the photography market involved the taking of post-mortem portraits. Commonly used in cases of infant mortality or accidental death, the post-mortem portrait was usually the only image a family might ever have of the deceased. The finality of death was often diffused in these images by placing the subjects in positions suggesting sleep.Nineteenth-century photography's commercial success was due largely to the personal portraits. Beginning in the 1840s, Americans wanted their "likenesses" taken and flocked to photographic studios in major cities and small towns (or to itinerant practitioners traveling in more remote areas) for their individual and family portraits. A grimmer side of the photography market involved the taking of post-mortem portraits. Commonly used in cases of infant mortality or accidental death, the post-mortem portrait was usually the only image a family might ever have of the deceased. The finality of death was often diffused in these images by placing the subjects in positions suggesting sleep.

Physical Dimensions: 2.8 x 2.2 in.

URL: http://www.geh.org/taschen/htmlsrc1/m199414360001_ful.html#topofimage

Source: George Eastman House

Date: c. 1855