Title from accompanying documentation and published secondary sources.
According to Ethel Arnold's accompanying manuscript account, Dodgson's photograph "was christened by him 'The Heathen Chinee." The title is an apparent reference to the popular and widely read poem by American author Bret Harte, which was originally intended as a parody of anti-Chinese prejudice. With its depiction of the broadly stereotyped title character, however, the poem was quickly embraced for its racist sentiments by those oblivious or unsympathetic to its satirical intent.
Image no. 1954-1979?
A memoire by Ethel laid in dates this photograph to about 1874 when she was 9 years old; however, Cohen (p. 382) dates it to 5 June 1871.
In case with PML 75997.
Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Cabinet photograph of Ethel Arnold as the "Heathen Chinee" [photograph].
Accession number:
PML 75997.2
Published:
[1871]
Description:
1 photographic print : albumen
Credit:
Purchase; Mrs. Enid A. Haupt, Mr. Frederick R. Koch, Mrs. George Nichols, and Mr. and Mrs. Richard Salomon, 1978.
Notes:
Provenance:
Harmsworth Trust Library (sale 26 March 1947); Ethel Arnold.
Catalog Link:
Department: