Momento Mori/Post Mortem photograph?

[chinakay]

And by 1929 the Victorian thing about posing the deceased had pretty well passed....although at Irish wakes it was still going on apparently, even into the 1970s and maybe later. But in the mainstream, no.

I agree this lady doesn't look well

Cheers,
China

[PrueM]

She's just old 
My nana looked similar towards the end of her life - she died aged 98. 

[Wiggy]

She is most definitely alive! 

They would not have propped her up like that, reading a book, if she had passed on.  It was very unusual to have the dead in "living" poses when photographed, sometimes children were held or sat next to a sibling but usually they are obviously deceased - lying down, sometimes in a casket, usually with flowers. 

I totally agree - and I'd written almost the same thing, but it wouldn't post during the RC troubles!!!       My RC troubles have been going on since about 8.30am   

 - glad you said it Prue!!

Wiggy   

[Mike in Cumbria]

She's just old. Nothing about that picture suggests a dead person to me, particularly as you say she died after 1929.

Of course she might not even be very old- perhaps she's recovering from a very good night out! I've occasionally felt like she looks.

[Wiggy]

I just darkened this a bit  - and I think her eyes are actually open and looking at the photo - just faded with age!

[Rena]

It's a lovely photo.  The lady is definitely alive and old photographs often conveyed messages of status and ability.  The man's clothing shows he had a bob or two and I think the book she is holding says that she was able to read. My grandmother was born in 1884 when it cost tuppence to go to school.   Was she 'well read'? Was she a school teacher at some time? It's a shame we can't read the book's title as it might give further clues.

[Seoras]

This is a mort photo I've posted before,notice the inability to sit up straight or hold a book.

[Mike in Cumbria]

Let's hope the living boy in that photo wasn't too traumatised by having to prop his dead sibling up for a photoshoot!

I know attitudes were different then but he doesn't look very happy.

Mike

[Treetotal]

The right hand looks odd and bigger than her left...as though someone is holding her hand up?
Carol