WITNESSarchive

W–019 · Documentary photograph and sources

The Last Portrait

In November 1880, Norwegian Ole Tobias Olsen lost his daughter Milda Dorothea, born only the year before. He made a post-mortem portrait of her: Milda seated beside her mother, Bernardine. The National Library of Norway’s catalogue preserves the family’s names and the circumstances of the picture.

1. Bernardine and Milda Dorothea Olsen

Bernardine Olsen beside her deceased one-year-old daughter Milda Dorothea, seated on a chair. The child’s father, Ole Tobias Olsen, made the portrait in 1880. The National Library of Norway records the names and circumstances.
Bernardine Olsen beside her deceased one-year-old daughter Milda Dorothea, seated on a chair. The child’s father, Ole Tobias Olsen, made the portrait in 1880. The National Library of Norway records the names and circumstances.
Provenance and sources for frame 1

Displayed file: 7345 × 5481 pixels. The source record discusses public-domain status; check which jurisdiction it covers. Full image record in Russian.

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2. Three before the camera

A young woman sits between a man and a woman. Online collections call her a deceased daughter between her parents, but no archival record has been found to confirm their identities, relationship or a post-mortem sitting.
A young woman sits between a man and a woman. Online collections call her a deceased daughter between her parents, but no archival record has been found to confirm their identities, relationship or a post-mortem sitting.
Provenance and sources for frame 2

Displayed file: 650 × 904 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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In the nineteenth century, a family sometimes called for a photographer after a loved one had died, wishing to retain an image of that person. A deceased child might be photographed in her mother’s arms or beside her relatives as part of a family portrait. Such pictures are called post mortem: “after death.”

3. A girl between two adults

A girl stands between a seated man and woman, touching one adult’s hand and the other’s shoulder. Online lists call this a post-mortem portrait; no archival evidence confirms that claim or identifies the sitters.
A girl stands between a seated man and woman, touching one adult’s hand and the other’s shoulder. Online lists call this a post-mortem portrait; no archival evidence confirms that claim or identifies the sitters.
Provenance and sources for frame 3

Displayed file: 650 × 819 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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4. A woman and a child

A woman sits beside a child facing the camera. The copy bears a Thanatos Archive / News Dog Media mark, but no open catalogue record establishes the names, date or circumstances.
A woman sits beside a child facing the camera. The copy bears a Thanatos Archive / News Dog Media mark, but no open catalogue record establishes the names, date or circumstances.
Provenance and sources for frame 4

Displayed file: 962 × 702 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

disgustingmen.comdisgustingmen.comView image file

Online collections also apply that label to group portraits whose history is unknown. Nine such photographs appear here. A woman supported on either side becomes, in the retelling, a dead daughter posed between her parents; a child’s closed eyes or a standing figure’s darkened hands are taken as signs of death. Claims about painted pupils pass from one post to another. The images alone cannot establish any of these accounts.

5. A couple and an infant

A man and woman sit before the camera; the woman holds a baby with closed eyes. Online posts say the baby was dead. No archival record confirms the sitters’ identities, relationship or a post-mortem sitting.
A man and woman sit before the camera; the woman holds a baby with closed eyes. Online posts say the baby was dead. No archival record confirms the sitters’ identities, relationship or a post-mortem sitting.
Provenance and sources for frame 5

Displayed file: 650 × 894 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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6. A young woman leaning on another

A young woman sits with her head inclined towards a woman beside her. The photograph circulates as post-mortem, but no catalogue record confirming the claim or identifying the women has been found.
A young woman sits with her head inclined towards a woman beside her. The photograph circulates as post-mortem, but no catalogue record confirming the claim or identifying the women has been found.
Provenance and sources for frame 6

Displayed file: 650 × 811 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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Another story concerns studio posing stands: supposedly they were used to hold dead bodies upright before the camera. In photographic studios, such supports helped living sitters remain still during long exposures. A stand is no proof of a post-mortem sitting, any more than closed eyes, the colour of a hand or a face that appears sharper than its neighbours.

7. Two women in a studio

One woman sits and another stands. Online lists call the standing woman deceased because her hands appear dark. Their colour cannot establish a post-mortem photograph; no archival description has been found.
One woman sits and another stands. Online lists call the standing woman deceased because her hands appear dark. Their colour cannot establish a post-mortem photograph; no archival description has been found.
Provenance and sources for frame 7

Displayed file: 650 × 903 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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8. Two girls on a sofa

Two girls in matching checked dresses sit leaning together. This portrait appears in post-mortem collections, but captions differ and no document establishes that either girl had died.
Two girls in matching checked dresses sit leaning together. This portrait appears in post-mortem collections, but captions differ and no document establishes that either girl had died.
Provenance and sources for frame 8

Displayed file: 650 × 670 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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For the other nine portraits, no archival records have yet been found to verify the sitters’ names, their relationships or that they were photographed after death. Their captions report online identifications with that reservation. Unlike the Olsen family photograph, these images do not even tell us with certainty whom we are seeing, much less whether anyone in them had died before the shutter opened.

9. Two girls in matching dresses

Two girls stand holding hands in matching dresses. The photograph is known from online post-mortem collections; the available copy has no names, date, card reverse or archival record.
Two girls stand holding hands in matching dresses. The photograph is known from online post-mortem collections; the available copy has no names, date, card reverse or archival record.
Provenance and sources for frame 9

Displayed file: 650 × 1007 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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10. Five children

Five children face the camera; the girl on the left has her eyes closed. An online caption calls her deceased. Closed eyes cannot establish that, and no primary record identifies the children or the circumstances.
Five children face the camera; the girl on the left has her eyes closed. An online caption calls her deceased. Closed eyes cannot establish that, and no primary record identifies the children or the circumstances.
Provenance and sources for frame 10

Displayed file: 650 × 488 pixels. Full image record in Russian.

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