Why were mothers covered in Victorian photos?

Hidden mother photography is a genre of photography common in the Victorian era in which young children were photographed with their mother present but hidden in the photograph. It arose from the need to keep children still while the photograph was taken due to the long exposure times of early cameras.

Why did many Victorians take photographs of their dead children?

While it may sound macabre today, countless families used post-mortem photos to memorialize their lost loved ones. Today, Victorian death photos may seem disturbing. But for people in the 19th century, they provided comfort during times of grief.

What did parents have to do to get their children’s portrait taken during the Victorian?

They wanted a picture of just the baby, and this was the best way to achieve it. Sometimes, the figures are obvious, standing by the side of a chair and waiting to be cropped out later; sometimes, they really do appear as a pair of curtains or as disembodied hands.

Who is the mother with in the photograph?

A Photograph Summary It is her mother when she was twelve years old or so. Beside her, on both sides are her two cousins, Betty and Dolly, who are holding her hands and are younger than her. They went for paddling on a beach holiday. Her uncle took the photograph then.

When did newborn photography become popular?

In the ’90s, it was Anne Geddes’s game: photographing naked newborns artfully curled up in pea pods or nestled in hollowed-out watermelons. A pioneer of pre-Internet Cute Overload, Geddes sold an estimated 19 million books worldwide, and, clearly, planted a seed.

Why was post-mortem photography popular?

Post-mortem photography allowed people to have an image of their deceased family members and they used them to remember and mourn loved ones. Often hidden beneath clothing, these personal images allowed the wearer to grieve or to remember absent family or friends.

Did Victorian mothers hide in photos?

Because 30-second exposure times and squirming children don’t mix very well, portrait studios often employed women who would help the young subjects stay immobile—while attempting to remain invisible—when mothers weren’t holding their children themselves. …

What was life like for a child in Victorian times?

Children from working class families	Children from rich families
had few luxuries. ate poor food worked long hours lived in damp, filthy conditions. Many children died of disease.	usually well fed, clean and well clothed. didn’t need to work went on holidays had expensive toys had pets such as ponies.

What was the age of the mother when the photograph was taken?

around twelve years old
The girl in the middle is the poet’s mother, and the poet speculates that her mother must have been around twelve years old when the picture was taken. The other two girls are two of her mother’s cousins.

How did the mother look like in the photograph?

According to the poetess, her mother has a beautiful face with a lovely smile. This shows that her mother was always cheerful and full of life. The photograph is taken by seaside which shows that her mother was adventure loving and spent a lot ot time on the beaches.

How old is Anne Geddes?

65 years (September 13, 1956)
Anne Geddes/Age