Today was a very exciting day for me because a very kind-hearted Asylum patron sent me a first edition copy of the original Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography In America book! To celebrate this occasion, I thought I’d present the first couple of images from the book as today’s fact. I’ll slowly work through the rest of the images in both this book and Sleeping Beauty II (which I already have). Thank you again for your incredible generosity, Bill!
And now…
Today’s Pre-Mortem Yet Truly Morbid Fact!
Pre-mortem Photographs of a Woman and a Child
Anonymous Daguerrotypes circa 1845.
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- Pre-mortem daguerrotype of a woman, 1845.
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- Pre-mortem daguerrotype of a child, 1845.
“Secure the Shadow ‘Ere the Substance Fade”
In photography’s earliest era, when most Americans had not had their portraits taken, this saying was a popular advertising slogan for daguerrotypists. It served as a reminder to photograph loved ones even after they had died. Nineteenth-century America was preoccupied with death, as it was ever present, often reversing life’s natural course by taking the young before the old.
These two daguerrotypes are “pre-mortem” photographs taken just before death. the look of resignation to coming death is written on these faces. This universal facial expression, relaxed facial muscles and firm-pressed lips, is a part of the terminal state. The coming of death was rarely photographed, as it often came quickly, and perhaps the hope of survival prevented acknowledgement. The child is portrayed with the trappings of death; she is covered with flowers.
Culled from: Sleeping Beauty: Memorial Photography in America
Hey! You do all the work. Thank you!
And this is going on today much more than in the past. Cell phones aren’t just for selfies anymore!
Will we call them “deathies”? 😉
You lucky duck! I’d love to have that book…..Well, someday, maybe.