"A Victorian View of Childhood" by Lewis Carroll

            Better known as the author of 'Alice in Wonderland' and 'Through The Looking Glass', Lewis Carroll (whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, 1832-1898) was also a fine photographer.  Among his favorite photographic models was this young girl, Alexandra "Xie" Kitchin (1864-1925).  She was the daughter of Rev. George William Kitchin (1827-1912), a friend of Carroll's and a professor at the University of Oxford in England where Carroll, himself a professor, also taught.

Carroll was often uncomfortable in the presence of adults, preferring the company of children, who he referred to as 'child-friends.' He possessed a rare ability to put children at ease, perhaps due to his vivid imagination and penchant for storytelling. Throughout his twenty-five years taking photographs, he photographed children often. They are posed simply, in their everyday dress, without the costumes and literary references favored by his Victorian contemporaries

Carroll's photograph of Xie embodies the quintessential Victorian view of childhood.  Where previous generations had seen children as small adults, Victorians thought them pure and in need of protection.  Carroll wrote: "Their innocent unconsciousness is very beautiful, and gives one a feeling of reverence, as at the presence of something sacred."

This rare 'Lewis Carroll' photograph was seen on display at the expanded and recently-reopened Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) in San Francisco, California.

Taken in: United States / California / San Francisco / San Francisco (show map)

Taken on: June 21, 2016

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Camera: Nikon D300, f/4.0, 1/20 sec, 35mm (=52mm), ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D300
Lens:	17.0-35.0 mm f/2.8-4.0
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.05 sec (1/20)
Focal Length:	35mm (35mm equivalent: 52mm)
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	+1/3 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Spot
White Balance:	Manual
Light Source:	Tungsten (Incandescent)
Gain Control:	Low gain up
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.7.1 (Macintosh)
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