Unidentified photographer / artist
1863, 20 June
I think that a man anxious to obey the precept "Know thyself"à

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Published in Charles Dickens "The Philsophy of Yourself" in "All the year round", Volume 9, June 20, 1863, p.392-393
 
I think that a man anxious to obey the precept " Know thyself," might gather much intimate self-acquaintance if he had his carte de visite taken at least once a month with a life-sized photograph once a year. He should keep the collection, not for public exhibition, but for private contemplation. He should muse over his multiplied effigies, and write marginal notes in the album where they are enshrined. Let there be no touching up, no smoothing away of furrows, no darkening of hair and whiskers. Let him insist on having the real, raw, untampered with, photographs. And, when he winds his way to the operator's studio, let him go in his ordinary costume unkempt, if it be his custom not to brush his hair shabby, if he be usually averse from sacrificing to the graces. When he sits or stands, let him assume his natural attitnde or no attitude; which is the most natural one of all. Let him sternly repudiate the traditional book, or pencil, or scroll, and kick away the carefully draped table, the eternal arm-chair, the scene-painted columns, curtain, and balustrade all the hackneyed "properties" of the photographer. The picture of a man with a wall behind him, is all he needs.
 
LL/34445