Looking for something?

Tap outside or press close

InspirationPhotography

The Lonesome Doll: The lonely life of a creepy doll who searches for meaning

The Lonesome Doll is an ongoing project by photographer Aline Smithson that follows a doll as he searches for the meaning of life. It's a project that began when she discovered an odd-looking doll, created in the 1970s, that didn't seem to fit with other toys.

Written By:
All images courtesy of Aline Smithson

All images courtesy of Aline Smithson

Smithson explained: "He was too adult to be of comfort to children, too severe-looking to fit with toys and teddy bears, and had too much character to be ignored. Seven years ago, I began to photograph this doll in juxtaposition to childhood pursuits, thinking of him as an everyman (or every child) who was discovering his place in the world, and more importantly, discovering the idea that one can’t truly love others until one learns to love oneself.

"There is something haunting about this doll—he has incredible dignity, yet expresses sadness and loneliness that feels almost human. I began to see him as a symbol for those who don’t quite fit in, live a lonely life, but continually search to find a connection to the world. He exudes pride when the object of ridicule, struggles to find in his place in an undefined world: he’s a man, not a boy; too real for the other toys and too strange to be loved by a child. But when he finds himself (in this case, other dolls that look like him), the world opens up and he realises that happiness is right in front of him."

Smithson adds: "As a mother and champion of the overlooked and the innocent, I see the importance of telling universal stories that remind us of our humanity and our heart."

A doll peers out from inside an open tumble dryer in black and white photography by Aline Smithson
Bald doll with severe features sits inside a wooden dollhouse with multiple windows and peaked roofs in black and white photograph
A doll sits in a chair cuddling two teddy bears, in a black and white photograph from The Lonesome Doll project by Aline Smithson
A doll gazes at a framed photograph of a smiling child beside a teddy bear on a bed, in Aline Smithson's The Lonesome Doll series
Child's hands holding two small dolls that resemble the lonesome doll, shown in black and white with a blurred child's face in the background
Black and white portrait of a bald doll wearing round glasses with circular lens designs, against a dark blurred background
Bald doll with solemn expression sitting in a toy truck, viewed from above against a patterned background
A doll lying on a bed beneath a pirate ship mobile hanging from the ceiling in a monochrome bedroom scene
A bald doll with a serious expression sits at a wooden table before a plate with food, positioned behind a black wooden chair in black and white photography
A doll with a pale face and wide eyes hangs from a washing line by its hands, holding wooden pegs, with blurred foliage in the background
Doll wearing a leopard-print outfit with matching hood and ears, holding a small matching fabric heart, in black and white
Doll lying on a floral patterned pillow surrounded by round objects on a bed with plaid blanket, gazing upward in black and white photograph
A pale doll with a bald head and stern expression sits shirtless next to another figure in black clothing in this black and white photograph from Aline Smithson's The Lonesome Doll project
Three dolls gathered around a Ouija board in black and white, from Aline Smithson's The Lonesome Doll project exploring themes of belonging and connection
Three dolls with solemn expressions peer through wooden staircase railings in black and white photography from Aline Smithson's The Lonesome Doll project
Share

Further Reading