Post-mortem Photography as Memory, Mourning and Material Evidence in Late 19th–Early 20th Century Greek Archives

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Published: Jul 17, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26265/jiim.v10i1.41853
Keywords:
post-mortem photography Greek photographic archives funeral photography 19th century photography visual representation of death
Myrto Stamatopoulou
Department of Photography and Audiovisual Arts, University of West Attica
Abstract

Purpose — This paper focuses on post-mortem photographs that had been produced in Greece between the late 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century, either from Greek or foreign photographers. The photographs examined are included in museums and public photographic archives as well as private collections in Greece and they are examined as a memento and as a piece of documentation. The aim of this study is to shed light both on the literal and symbolic implications of post-mortem photography in Greece and thus to document and critically examine the photographs through the historical, social and cultural conditions of the period in which they were created. 


Design/methodology/approach — This study employs a qualitative methodological framework, aiming to explore and interpret post-mortem photography as a socially constructed phenomenon. Emphasis is given on the critical examination of the visual and symbolic dimensions of the photographic representation of the dead body as well as on the cultural narratives that underpin this photographic practice. The study is grounded in original archival research, direct visual analysis and comparative study of the photographic material and the documentary evidence. It is also complemented by a comprehensive literature review in the fields of art history and cultural studies. 


Findings — The findings of this study extend beyond the mere documentation of photographic archives, offering an in-depth analysis of societal attitudes toward the deceased and broader perceptions of death during the period under consideration. 


Originality/value — This study constitutes an original research endeavor derived from the author’s independent investigation. Given that post-mortem photography in Greece has not been yet fully studied, the aim of this work is to contribute to the existing body of research on Greek photography, as well as to the scholarly research of Greek photographic archives. 

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