Shooting The Dead

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As gloomy as it sounds, taking photos of the dead was a common practice in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Learn more about this odd tradition at The Observatory, where Dr. Stanley Burns will talk about postmortem photography, present his latest book — Sleeping Beauty III: Memorial Photography: The Children, and share hundreds of images from his enormous collection. Having amassed the largest and most comprehensive collection of postmortem photos, Dr. Burns has spent a lot of time studying the popular tradition that has been overlooked by many contemporary historians.  The combination of art and history, and understanding the significance of each one’s mirroring of the other, can teach a lot about culture and in this case about bereavement and closure. Admission is $5 and six books will be available for purchase and signing.

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