Untitled (Post Mortem Portrait of a Girl) 1855

This haunting daguerreotype, created in 1855 by an anonymous artist, depicts the post-mortem portrait of a young girl. The image captures her peaceful repose, her eyes closed, and her hands clasped together as she rests on a pillow. The intimate scale of the daguerreotype, a popular photographic format in the 19th century, highlights the personal nature of this memento mori, a reminder of mortality. The work is currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago.