Imagine it’s the 1800s, and someone in your family has just passed away. How do you remember them? Why, with a photograph, of course! But this isn’t just any photo—it’s a picture of your dearly departed propped up in their Sunday best, posed as if they were still among the living. Welcome to the world of Victorian post-mortem photography, where the line between life and death was blurred... literally.

Back then, photography was a luxury, and for many families, this “final portrait” was the only chance to capture a loved one's likeness. They’d go all out, dressing the deceased in their finest clothes, positioning them in chairs, or even surrounded by their living relatives in touching (and somewhat eerie) group shots. Children were posed with toys, adults looked peacefully asleep, and sometimes clever retouching was used to make the eyes look open, giving an illusion of life.

This practice may sound morbid to us today, but for the Victorians, it was a heartfelt way of commemorating those they’d lost. With no smartphones and Instagram to immortalize every moment, these solemn yet beautiful photographs served as treasured mementos, helping families grieve and keep their loved ones close... even if it meant sitting uncomfortably close to a very still Aunt Margaret.