Oscar Wilde as a child

Source: Sherard, The Real Oscar Wilde

In the nineteenth century young male children dressed in girls' clothing, so this photograph of Wilde should not be interpreted in terms of his later sexual orientation or preferences. As Joan Nunn points out, “boys still wore frocks with pleated skirts, or tunics and blouses over pleated skirts, until the age of three or four. ”

Image capture and formatting by George P. Landow.

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