50 Haunting Portraits Found On Tombstones That Tell Stories Of Lives Once Lived

There is nothing more certain in life than death. And while many people don’t like to think about their inevitable end, it’s bound to happen at some point. There are many ways to remember and honor the dead. Nowadays, people can have jewelry made from their loved one’sashes, and they might have planted a tree for them or perhaps set up a foundation in their name.

There’s an Instagram account that’s dedicated to headstone portraits.Posthumous Portraitshas a wall of intriguing, mysterious, haunting, sad, and sometimes macabre content. And it doesn’t only feature people. There are pet portraits, too. Each image tells a unique story of a life that is no longer.Bored Pandahas put together our top picks that might inspire you to think a little deeper about how you’d like to be remembered one day. We also managed to secure an interview with the creative brains behind the page.Allyson Pettigrewis a photographer and a self-confessed cemetery a****t.

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A vintage headstone portrait of a cat with a weathered finish, showcasing unique memorial art.

The person behind the Posthumous Portraits IG account is just a little obsessed with things that others might find creepy or scary.Allyson Pettigrewspends more time in cemeteries than most people. The self-confessed taphophile loves photographing tombstones, cemetaries, abandoned buildings, and strange and macabreart. She’s described herself as a horror aficionado, a runner, and a social worker.

Headstone portrait of a dog named Smokey, between 1936-1952, surrounded by green foliage.

Portrait on a headstone with the text “Oh, I’m so pretty” engraved below.

Pettigrew says that finding ceramic portraits quickly became one of her favorite parts of visiting a cemetery, which has developed into a lifelong passion. “Through my Posthumous Portraits page, I am able to share portraits from all over the world that fellow taphophiles have found,” she revealed.

Headstone portrait of a smiling man, with inscriptions honoring him as a son, brother, and environmental protector.

Pet headstone portrait of cat Berlioz with a figurine lying nearby.

Portrait of an elderly man with a cat on his shoulder, framed on a headstone with the name Enrico.

For those who aren’t familiar, Pettigrew says ceramic headstone portraits became popular in theUnited Statesin the mid-to-late 19th century. “The method of creating the portraits was not expensive, so they became an affordable way to memorialize a loved one in a unique, personalized manner,” the expert told Bored Panda.“The ceramic portraits could not only display their loved one’s visage, but also portray their style, interests, and personality. It is eerie and powerful to wander through a cemetery and see the faces of the dead looking back at you. It is a tangible link to thehistoryof the cemetery and who is buried there, and provides so much more insight as to who is buried there than just a name carved into a headstone.”

“The ceramic portraits could not only display their loved one’s visage, but also portray their style, interests, and personality. It is eerie and powerful to wander through a cemetery and see the faces of the dead looking back at you. It is a tangible link to thehistoryof the cemetery and who is buried there, and provides so much more insight as to who is buried there than just a name carved into a headstone.”

Close-up of a lovely headstone portrait showing a baby’s feet cradled by adult hands.

Headstone with a portrait of a man making a playful face, surrounded by decorative elements.

Smiling woman in an oval headstone portrait on granite background.

We’re curious to know what drives this creative and how she carries out her work. “My creative process is simple: I have a natural eye for photography, and I take pictures of anything that strikes me,” she revealed.“My artistic ability did not make itself known until I was 35, so I have never received any formal guidance or training. I simply photograph material I am drawn to, mainly cemeteries, and then share my pictures with everyone in hopes they will find the same appreciation for the historical beauty in them that I do.”

“My artistic ability did not make itself known until I was 35, so I have never received any formal guidance or training. I simply photograph material I am drawn to, mainly cemeteries, and then share my pictures with everyone in hopes they will find the same appreciation for the historical beauty in them that I do.”

Child’s portrait on a headstone, showcasing a poignant and expressive gaze.

Headstone portrait of a cat named Bengal, with flowers and a heartfelt inscription.

A lovely headstone portrait of a woman and a cat lying close together on a pillow.

Pettigrew tells us she finds inspiration in quiet, dark beauty, which isn’t any surprise. “To me, cemeteries are full of inspiring sights: a shadow half concealing a stone angel’s face; trees with long, gnarled branches that hang over the graves; and, of course, the ceramic portraits that adorn the headstones,” says the photographer.

Holding hands image on a headstone portrait, capturing a tender moment in a car setting.

Angel statue with headstone portrait of girl named Layla, capturing a lovely memorial tribute in a cemetery.

Headstone with a lovely portrait of a dog named Candy, inscribed with heartfelt messages from 2001 to 2017.

“I was inspired to create Posthumous Portraits shortly after I began sharing my ceramic portrait finds in Philadelphia withothertaphophiles on Instagram,” revealed the page’s founder.

“I began to notice other people posting ceramic portraits from various parts of the world and was equally fascinated with them. I created Posthumous Portraits as a space to share these lost souls with everyone, and to show everyone the faces of the past.”

A headstone portrait of a person with glasses holding a black cat, surrounded by grass and stones.

Woman sitting on a rock in a headstone portrait, wearing a black outfit and boots.

Antique headstone portrait of a young girl holding a doll, set in an ornate oval frame.

We wanted to know more about the person behind the page. “I am a social worker living in Philadelphia, PA,” she tells us. “My love for the Victorian-era cemeteries in the area is what inspired me to become a photographer and share my vision with everyone. I started to connect with the people residing in these cemeteries and thehistorysurrounding them. I strive to bring awareness to the value and beauty of these sacred places.”

Old-fashioned headstone portrait of a young girl in a dress, adding a lovely touch to the memorial stone.

Headstone portraits featuring dogs named Snookums, with inscription from 1932 to 1948.

Old black-and-white headstone portrait of a smiling man in a pilot’s outfit, framed by a weathered metal oval.

But Pettigrew doesn’t spend every waking moment in graveyards. “When I am not taking pictures in cemeteries, I can be found enjoyinghorror moviesor British comedies,” she tells us. “I love to go see live music with my husband on the weekends, and also spend time hiking with my dog in the woods. I am currently writing a book on thehistoryand significance of Laurel Hill East and Laurel Hill West cemeteries in Philadelphia, which will be published in early 2026.“And we, for sure, will be on the lookout for that!

And we, for sure, will be on the lookout for that!

Vintage headstone portrait of a young man with a dual exposure effect on a textured stone background.