adevarul.ro/stil-de-viata/cultura/traditiile-macab

In Victorian England, death was a common part of life, leading to the practice of post-mortem photography. Families would capture images of deceased loved ones at home, often with the help of a photographer who used elaborate techniques to create lifelike representations. This practice emerged alongside high mortality rates, particularly among children, due to diseases like tuberculosis. The advent of wet collodion photography made these images more accessible to the working class. Queen Victoria's mourning for Prince Albert exemplified the era's public expressions of grief. The funeral industry thrived, with elaborate ceremonies reflecting social status, and mourning attire became a significant market. Death was both a personal loss and a societal spectacle, influencing cultural norms around mourning and remembrance.