Is He Dead? | ||
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Posted 8 years ago
SpiritBear
(813 items)
He either has really bright blue eyes or no pupils. His posture seems unnaturally stiff and just hanging there. There is some sort of stand behind him (look at his feet in pic 3). His hat needs adjusted. He has on his finest, including a ring and pocket watch. He has odd pant cuffs.
^Describes this tin-type. ^
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LOL, Bobby. I laughed. :P
Great image-- love the bare feet!
He was alive when photographed. Unfortunately there is an internet myth of the posing stand being used to hold up post-mortem people. These cast iron posing stands were actually used to keep the subjects head still. The stand itself is rather flimsy, although it does have a cast iron base. Examination of an actual stand will show that it couldn't support the weight of a child. Additionally, examination of the patent paperwork on these stands shows no reference to post mortem posing.
scott
Thanks, Scottvez, for all the info. :)
The person might have had bright blue eyes. Photographic emulsion during this time period was very sensitive to the color blue and typically rendered blue as white. This is especially true with landscapes; skies appear white in most images.
i had believed that myth until now, but it makes total sense that the stand would only be used for the living. My Pepere told me that they took photos of the dead to show people who were not around when the person died that they had really died in order to help them come to terms with it. that wouldn't be as effective, if the dead person were made to stand up and look alive.
Post mortem (pm) photography was very popular in the 19th century.
In the 19th century, photographs were a special event. Many of the pm photos that I have seen/ owned are of children and probably represent the ONLY lasting image of the departed. PM photography was certainly part of the grieving process and for remembering the departed.
I have owned many and seen numerous others (hundreds, maybe even into the thousands). I have never seen a standing pm. I have seen a few sitting pm images.
When the eyes are open and the subject is upright, it is doubtful that it is a pm image.
scott