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

Lewis Carroll

Period Produced

19th century

School

Object Type

photograph

Physical Description: Albumen print mounted on cardboard

Material

Technique

albumen print

Property and Acquisition

Institution

Städel Museum

Departement

Photographic Collection

Collection

Städelsches Kunstinstitut

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.