Victorian Photoshop? The Bizarre Photo Manipulation of the 1800s

Before Photoshop, the Victorians had their own way of editing photos—some sentimental, others downright eerie. The Heart in Hand photo from 1896 used double exposure to create an emotional keepsake, while John Hallowell’s 1901 ‘spirit photograph’ placed him alongside 15 famous figures. Whether it was an early artistic trend or an attempt to fool the public, these images showcase the bizarre and fascinating world of 19th-century photo manipulation.