Margaret Frances Langton Clarke c. 1864 - 1866

Editor: This is a photograph, "Margaret Frances Langton Clarke," taken by Lewis Carroll sometime between 1864 and 1866. The light is just beautiful. She looks kind of sad though. What strikes you about this photograph? Curator: Notice the materiality. It’s not just a picture of a girl, but evidence of a complex production. Consider the cotton used for her patterned dress versus the plush, probably more expensive fabric of the chair. Who had access to these commodities and under what labor conditions were they produced? Editor: That's interesting! I was so focused on her expression, I didn't really think about the actual making of the photograph or the clothes themselves. Curator: Exactly! Look closely. The backdrop is another textile, probably draped. How does that pattern clash, or perhaps harmonize, with the girl's dress? Is it intentional or simply what was available? Then there's the chair - upholstered furniture speaks volumes about the sitter's family wealth and position. The photograph is evidence of so many stages of materials. Editor: So you're saying that the materials themselves are telling a story about Victorian society? Curator: Absolutely. Think about Carroll’s role in all this, as a relatively privileged photographer documenting members of his social circles. The choice of clothing, props, even the backdrop all become tools used by Carroll in crafting a particular image for this photographic print. Editor: I never really thought of it that way! It's like the materials are co-authors. I see this image so differently now. Curator: Right? Each choice reflects material availability, labor, class structures... Photography is never just about "capturing reality." We can examine the processes required to realize that photographic effect! Editor: That definitely adds a layer I had not considered. Looking at the material of the chair now is telling of how things made impact social circles, it’s almost a critique. Thanks!