Untitled (full length image of dead child, lace backdrop) c. 1915

Editor: This photograph, by Durette Studio, features a deceased child against a backdrop of lace. It's incredibly haunting. What can you tell me about the cultural context of these post-mortem photographs? Curator: These images served as a tangible connection to the deceased, especially during times when infant mortality rates were high. The act of memorializing through photography became a socially accepted practice, often the only image a family possessed of their child. Editor: So, it's not just a morbid fascination, but a way of preserving a life? Curator: Precisely. Consider the socio-economic factors too; professional photography was becoming accessible, offering families a means to create a lasting memory, a public declaration of grief and remembrance within their community. It served a vital cultural function. Editor: That provides a powerful new perspective. I'm not sure I'll ever view photographs the same way.