Alexandra “Xie” Kitchin as Chinese “Tea-Merchant” (on Duty), Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll
Alexandra “Xie” Kitchin as Chinese “Tea-Merchant” (on Duty)
DE
Back to top

Lewis Carroll

Alexandra “Xie” Kitchin as Chinese “Tea-Merchant” (on Duty), 1873


Darstellung
19.8 x 15.2 cm
Physical Description
Albumen print mounted on cardboard
Inventory Number
St.F.78
Acquisition
Acquired in 2011 with support from the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Hessischer Kulturstiftung, property of the Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.
Status
Not on display

Texts

About the Work

The famous author of 'Alice in Wonderland' liked to photograph young girls. Alexandra 'Xie', his favourite model, is shown here sitting on tea chests as if on packed suitcases. Dressed in traditional Far Eastern costume, she is posing as a Chinese tea merchant. Lewis Carroll is thus alluding on the one hand to the expensive semi-luxury ingredient of British tea culture; on the other hand, the way the photo is staged bears witness to the beginnings of art photography. It is not reality that Carroll is portraying here, but a world he has created using authentic set pieces.

Work Data

Basic Information

Title
Alexandra “Xie” Kitchin as Chinese “Tea-Merchant” (on Duty)
Photographer
Period Produced
School
Object Type
Physical Description
Albumen print mounted on cardboard
Material
Technique

Property and Acquisition

Institution
Departement
Collection
Creditline
Städel Museum, Frankfurt am Main, Eigentum des Städelschen Museums-Vereins e.V.
Picture Copyright
Public Domain
Acquisition
Acquired in 2011 with support from the Kulturstiftung der Länder and the Hessischer Kulturstiftung, property of the Städelscher Museums-Verein e.V.

Work Content

Motifs and References

Genre
Main Motif
Persons Shown
Associated Source
  • Lewis Carroll: Alice im Wunderland

Iconclass

Primary
Secondary

More to discover

Contact

Do you have any suggestions, questions or information about this work?

Last update

08.12.2023