Around the year 1913, actress Sarah Bernhardt, then one of the best-known actresses in the world, wanted to know what she would look like at her funeral. She ordered an expensive casket, dressed in her favorite gown, and posed for this photograph.
Int’l Newsreel, circa 1913
Though this is a wasteful and grossly self-absorbed action, it doesn’t seem to be atypical behavior from a celebrity of any era. I might go so far as to say it’s predictable. There’s probably some exclusive boutique in Hollywood that offers this service.
What did surprise me is that in early 1923, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s Evening News learned that Sarah Bernhardt was seriously ill and took that opportunity to run this 10-year-old picture. I found that a little bit shocking! Is it just me? As it happened, Bernhardt died two months later.
(Apologies to Jennie for profiling more narcissism so soon! 😉 )
old spirituals 
I’m confused. What’s shocking about the media exploiting a tragedy?
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😂 I guess that part isn’t new. But back then, it was about writing salacious or intriguing stories. If it bleeds it leads. Et cetera.
But the media does a lot of moral posturing today that would baffle anyone alive in the 1920s. I’d be surprised if they published a picture of a celebrity pretending to be dead when that person is really ill, because it might be construed as opportunistic.
But who knows, maybe they would.
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Great comment, Ruby! When I first looked at the photo, I thought it was gruesome to do something like that. Then I remembered photos of deceased children taken in that manner in the 1800’s to possibly the early 1900’s. Maybe Bernhardt had a bad dream or a premonition of her own death and was consumed with the idea. My first thought was “publicity stunt.” I guess we’ll never know!
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thanks Judy! 😄
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Oh the post-mortem photography! I need to do a post on that soon. Great idea!
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