Veiled in Sorrow: The Influence of Victorian Mourning on Culture

Abstract

The Victorian era is known for its eclectic and unique mourning rituals. The aspects of mourning throughout this era had origins in the mourning of Queen Victoria after the death of her husband. However, it is the ways in which this mourning affected Victorian society that are significant. The power that mourning had on the culture of the Victorian era will be expanded upon. This presentation will look into how mourning influenced the use of photography, correlated with the rise of Spiritualism, and altered Victorian fashion. Ultimately, the constructs of Victorian mourning influenced the culture of the era.