Victorian Era post-mortem photography. Many families at this time were either too poor or too far away to attend the funerals of their deceased loved ones. The emerging art of photography allowed them to at least view a snapshot, and it was affordable enough that most families could seize the opportunity. It became especially popular because the infant mortality rate was considerable and many newborns did not survive infancy. These were often the only pictures ever taken of them.
The deceased was usually posed so they appeared to be asleep, or in a life-like position such as standing (with support) or sitting.
(Source: schlieffen, via youaremyfavourite)
