The Truth Behind These Photos Is Shocking, But It Happened All The Time

I have to start this article with a confession: I have never suffered a tragic loss like the ones in these images.

I have lost a grandparent but was too young to truly understand what that means.

So I can’t say that I understand the suffering these families must have felt when they decided to take these photos.

Yes, that’s right, these photos are families with a deceased loved one.

Although the practice can seem morbid and creepy, it’s actually quite moving.

These photos show the last moment these Victorians had with a person who filled their heart with love. In many images I found, that person was a child.

So instead of being grossed out, take a minute to appreciate these Victorian post-mortem photographs.

1. Some of the photos are what you would expect: the last image of an elderly relative.

2. Others were more depressing in nature, such as this one where a mother holds her deceased daughter.

3. And still more are quite tragic, such as this couple holding their baby who has passed away.

4. Capturing the last image of a deceased child seemed to be common in Victorian times. Sometimes they would place the child doing what they had loved to do most, such as this girl among her dolls. They would also be seen with those they loved most, which you’ll see in number six.