JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
One, more thread on our endlessly entertaining Victorian ancestors. We all have them- Victorian ancestors. Who they were, what they were doing and what encompassed their world could remain a mystery for some; be sure we all descend through the era.
The ' Hidden Mother ' photographs have fascinatingly emerged from the era as either baffling or bizarre relics. Mothers poorly disguised as furniture creepily fondling children, fooling no one in an age when camera lenses required long, long motionless seconds to record that coveted ( and expensive ) photograph seems so sophomorically simple-minded compared to results it's a little shocking anyone thought them worthwhile. Surely there was a better solution? Something less distracting, less silly looking, more in keeping with an ornate dignity we've come to associate with the Victorian era? I mean gee whiz, if we pick up on a certain elegance of purpose think what effort went into projecting that across the board!
( I just posted 3 different photos, deleting them as it became clear all 3 were post mortem. )
Post era, another take on Hidden Mothers
It means women did not just rush their little ones on over to the photographers, throw blankets over their heads and wrangle little ones into states of terrified muteness. It transpires two factors were at play, or could have been. One- a fair amount of these ' Hidden Mother ' photos were post mortum. Far easier, instead of propping the tragic little figure in chair or bed, to be held in position by lap and arms. How a grief stricken parent achieves this is beyond me; remembering this would have been the only photograph hence the only evidence this child once graced the planet I suppose gave the hidden mother added strength, supporting her through the ordeal as she supported her once living offspring. Ouch. Am not providing an example because these photos were from deeply personal times in the lives of a shattered, grief stricken family. None of our business, intruding, may as well gain entrance to their bedrooms or baths- or deathbeds.
The second way these photos make sense is how some have been found framed. How many oval shaped, small, ancient photos exist of babies and small children in various collections? We have several in our family. It's only just occurred to me recently, the originals may have consisted of a mother/child photo, cropped around the child. Hiding the mother gives greater scope in framing- makes a huge amount of sense. If ' Hidden Mother ' photographs were meant to be displayed this way most of inheriting our family collections would have found several exactly this way somewhere, in frames. We certainly have none although like I said, have several small, baby photos in oval frames.
Hidden Cat mommy.....
Examples- and am not stating this was the case always. Perhaps a lot of families saw the idea and thought it wonderful exactly as-is. Unsurprising if so, some are quite good without the crop. Still- much more understandable with it and also giving the nod the photos which no doubt found their way to a jewelry box or drawer,- the post mortem photos.
I looked at this one for awhile, trying to ascertain if the little girl was still with us at the time of the photo- her eyes are glistening plus she looks annoyed, seems alive, annoyed by a mother's hands holding her head still.
The ' Hidden Mother ' photographs have fascinatingly emerged from the era as either baffling or bizarre relics. Mothers poorly disguised as furniture creepily fondling children, fooling no one in an age when camera lenses required long, long motionless seconds to record that coveted ( and expensive ) photograph seems so sophomorically simple-minded compared to results it's a little shocking anyone thought them worthwhile. Surely there was a better solution? Something less distracting, less silly looking, more in keeping with an ornate dignity we've come to associate with the Victorian era? I mean gee whiz, if we pick up on a certain elegance of purpose think what effort went into projecting that across the board!
( I just posted 3 different photos, deleting them as it became clear all 3 were post mortem. )
Post era, another take on Hidden Mothers
It means women did not just rush their little ones on over to the photographers, throw blankets over their heads and wrangle little ones into states of terrified muteness. It transpires two factors were at play, or could have been. One- a fair amount of these ' Hidden Mother ' photos were post mortum. Far easier, instead of propping the tragic little figure in chair or bed, to be held in position by lap and arms. How a grief stricken parent achieves this is beyond me; remembering this would have been the only photograph hence the only evidence this child once graced the planet I suppose gave the hidden mother added strength, supporting her through the ordeal as she supported her once living offspring. Ouch. Am not providing an example because these photos were from deeply personal times in the lives of a shattered, grief stricken family. None of our business, intruding, may as well gain entrance to their bedrooms or baths- or deathbeds.
The second way these photos make sense is how some have been found framed. How many oval shaped, small, ancient photos exist of babies and small children in various collections? We have several in our family. It's only just occurred to me recently, the originals may have consisted of a mother/child photo, cropped around the child. Hiding the mother gives greater scope in framing- makes a huge amount of sense. If ' Hidden Mother ' photographs were meant to be displayed this way most of inheriting our family collections would have found several exactly this way somewhere, in frames. We certainly have none although like I said, have several small, baby photos in oval frames.
Hidden Cat mommy.....
Examples- and am not stating this was the case always. Perhaps a lot of families saw the idea and thought it wonderful exactly as-is. Unsurprising if so, some are quite good without the crop. Still- much more understandable with it and also giving the nod the photos which no doubt found their way to a jewelry box or drawer,- the post mortem photos.
I looked at this one for awhile, trying to ascertain if the little girl was still with us at the time of the photo- her eyes are glistening plus she looks annoyed, seems alive, annoyed by a mother's hands holding her head still.
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I'm off to stress eat.
Bringing the