This Is What’s Lurking Beneath The Blankets In Victorian Baby Photos

When you think of Victorian photography, what do you picture? Probably grim, unsmiling people in fancy clothes, all shot in austere black and white or sepia. They can be pretty creepy as well, right? But some images from this era are a little spookier than others. And, yes, we’re talking about baby photos. Take a close look at any picture of an infant from this time, and you’ll likely spot an eerie figure lurking in the background of the shot. Can’t see it right away? Here’s a clue: think about who or what is hiding beneath those conspicuous blankets...

In the background...

If you’re just cooing over the photographed children – and we wouldn’t blame you – you probably won’t notice these mysterious interlopers to begin with. But when you finally spot one, a chill may run down your spine. It’s really unnerving! And here’s the thing. After that horrible scare, you’ll no doubt pick up on similar figures in the backgrounds of other Victorian baby pictures.

Hard to notice

What’s going on? Once you’ve spotted the blanket-clad figures, you’ll think these scary snaps wouldn’t look out of place in a horror movie! But back in the day, these photos weren’t anything out of the ordinary. That’s despite the strange shapes, which take on different forms depending on the child in the frame.

Ghostly apparitions

Sometimes, this apparition has a dark piece of fabric draped over it, making it look for all the world like a terrifying specter. In other cases, it’s hiding behind a curtain. Then there are the chairs that clearly aren’t normal pieces of furniture. Like we said, it varies.

Sign of the times

While you try to wrap your mind around this phenomenon, rest assured – there is an explanation. And it has a lot to do with the intricacies of Victorian photography and the equipment folks used during the period. Unsurprisingly, snapping a picture back then wasn’t as straightforward as it is today! Yet it was still a popular pastime.