Portret van een onbekende overleden man before 1897

This is a 140 by 100 mm photographic print of an unknown deceased man, by H.-J. Gosse. It appears within the pages of a book. The man's gaze, though frozen in time, invites us to consider the social and cultural context of post-mortem photography. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such images served as poignant mementos, often the last visual record of a loved one. The practice intersected with evolving attitudes towards death, grief, and remembrance, reflecting a desire to preserve the memory of the departed in an era marked by high mortality rates. Consider how class might inform this image. Was this an affordable option or a luxury for the well-to-do? The image offers a powerful reminder of our shared mortality and the diverse ways in which societies grapple with loss. It prompts reflection on how we confront death individually, and collectively.