I view the pictures and subject you see on this site as works of art, something that is done with intense devotion and love, a last act one person can do for another when they are mourning. I don’t think what you are viewing is gross or something that should be hidden away in an attic so no one can do what these pictures were meant to do in the first place… serve as a memorial and rememberance of a life that was loved so much.
Sometimes these pictures are the only image of that life, a keepsake to hold close and hold dear to one as they are grieving. Also, death was not looked at like it is now. Death was more common and people did this sometimes as just a “normal” passage of life to death, a loveing act that took place when one was mourning. It is also something that is returning, especially babies who never make it into this world alive, or those who live briefly.
Mourning jewelry and death masks are not some unheard of factor of death, it was common during the victorian times to want to capture the spirit of the deceased in anyway they could….. including keeping lockets of hair, cremated remains, pictures and anything else one would like to hold and keep close. A death mask is simply a 3D image of the face someone wants to remember forever, and some of these are in museum holding the only captured image of people who are well known, from poets, composers and powerful people of societies long gone.
A word on mourning, at least in my opinion. Mourning is a difficult thing to go through, for anyone. Each of us grieves differently from one another based on culture, economics, age, lifestyle and other life changing events. I will also say that mourning is a very selfish behavior, however, everyone is entitled to this time and no one should judge or hury the process. It is simply an awakening to a new life with a huge void that must be accepted.
So if you are currently mourning and grieving, or helping someone get through this process, the best thing to do is respect their decisions, requests and tears by letting them know you are there to help in any way you can….
If you have something to share on this site, an insight on the content or something of interest to talk about I please email jeffrreyscottthomas@gmail.com and I will be happy to post what you offer.
