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Two Children with Toys, c. 1855. Creator: Unidentified Photographer
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Two Children with Toys, c. 1855. Creator: Unidentified Photographer
Two Children with Toys, c. 1855. Children have always been particularly cherished subjects for photography. Portraits were made to preserve the memory of their stages of growth and, in an age when long-distance travel was rare, to share with faraway relatives. And, for a sadder reason: in 1840 an estimated one-third of children died before age five. Photography offered grieving parents the opportunity to immortalize their childrens features. This tragic genre of photographs, later called " post-mortems, " often depicts the children in fine clothing, laying down with eyes shut, as if merely napping
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Media ID 19645547
© Heritage Art/Heritage Images
Daguerreotype Unidentified Photographer Quarter Plate
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photo print, titled "Two Children with Toys, c. 1855" captures a poignant moment in history and showcases the significance of children as subjects in early photography. The unidentified photographer skillfully immortalizes these young lives, preserving their stages of growth for future generations to cherish. During the mid-19th century, long-distance travel was rare, making it challenging for families to share memories with faraway relatives. Photography became a powerful tool to bridge this gap and connect loved ones through visual representations of their beloved children. In an era marred by high child mortality rates - where approximately one-third of children did not live past the age of five - grieving parents turned to photography as a means to preserve their precious offspring's features forever. The heart-wrenching genre known as "post-mortems" emerged from this tragic reality. These photographs often depict deceased children dressed in elegant attire, appearing peacefully asleep rather than acknowledging their untimely demise. Heritage Art/Heritage Images has expertly reproduced this daguerreotype on a quarter plate, showcasing its historical significance within American culture during the 19th century. Preserved by The Cleveland Museum of Art, this photograph serves as a testament to both the technical prowess and emotional impact that early photographers had on society. As we gaze upon these two innocent faces surrounded by toys frozen in time over 150 years ago, we are reminded of the enduring power that photography holds – capturing moments that would otherwise fade away into distant memory.
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