“Alice and the Cheshire Cat”
For today, the very first image of the iconic fictional character, the Cheshire Cat.
“Alice and the Cheshire Cat” is a woodblock print by the English illustrator and political cartoonist, Sir John Tenniel. This illustration is from the very first publication of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland in 1865, where it can be found on page 91. The original drawings were ink on paper.
The accompanying quote reads:
“Well, then,” the Cat went on, “you see a dog growls when it’s angry, and wags its tail when it’s pleased. Now I growl when I’m pleased, and wag my tail when I’m angry. Therefore I’m mad.”
Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, had originally begun drafting his own illustrations for his book, but was persuaded to hire a professional illustrator. John Tenniel was an up-and-coming illustrator at the time and was chosen for the task. Tenniel had achieved notoriety for his political cartoons in the weekly publication of the Punch magazine.
Since Carroll already had illustrations in mind, he gave such specific instructions to Tenniel that their relationship became strained. The illustrations, however, along with the novel became a huge success, partly due to the perfectionist attitude of both artists.
Tenniel provided the original illustrations as ink on paper. The images were engraved on wood for the book publication by the leading engravers in London, England, the Dalziel Brothers. If Tenniel’s work looks familiar, it should, as the 1951 Disney movie, Alice in Wonderland, follows Tenniel’s stylistic interpretations closely.
For more on Sir John Tenniel, please visit his short biography here.
You can find more artists to learn about here.
