Peter Newell

Peter Newell became popular  in the 1880s  for his humorous drawings. Later, he also wrote and illustrated unusual children’s books (and poems), such as Topsys and Turvys (1893), which could be read upside-down, or the rhomboid shaped  Slant Book (1910).

He created the second illustrated version of Alice after Tenniel (the first was authored by Blanche McManus in 1899). Newell’s Alice was published by Harper & Brothers in October 1901.

Salvador Dalí

“Dalí subscribed to Surrealist André Breton’s theory of automatism, but ultimately opted for a method of tapping the unconscious that he termed “critical paranoia“, a state in which one could cultivate delusion while maintaining one’s sanity. Paradoxically defined by Dalí himself as a form of “irrational knowledge,” the paranoiac-critical method was applied by his contemporaries, mostly Surrealists, to varied media, ranging from cinema to poetry and fashion.”

Alice illustrated by Dali was first published in 1969.

dali caterpillar

Figueiredo Sobral

Figueiredo Sobral was an awarded surrealist artist, sculptor and poet that illustrated a Portuguese version of Alice. The result is beautiful!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Figueiredo Sobral. Lisbon: Portugalia Editora, 1960.

Helen Oxenbury

Helen Oxenbury is on of the most popular contemporary illustrators of children’s literature.  She received several awards including 2 Kate Greeaway Medals, a Kurt Mascheler Award and a Booktrust. Helen’s version of Alice won both the the Kurt Maschler Award and the Kate Greenaway Medal.

First edition from Walker Books, 1999.

 

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland by Helen Oxenbury

Rene Cloke

Rene Cloke was a well known illustrator of greeting cards and postcards. Among the books she illustrated there are two different versions of Alice and several books from Enid Blyton. Her initial Alice version was published in the early 40’s. It contained 8 colourful plates and plenty single colour drawings.

First edition Published by Gawthorn Ltd London in 194(0)?

Rene cloke dormouse

ReneClokeAliceInWonderland

Rebecca Dautremer

Rebecca Dautremer is a fantastic French illustrator that has already illustrated many classic tale stories. Alice is on of them, but many other are worth checking!

Her Alice version was first printed in 201o  – Album de Gautier Languereau – Texte intégral de Lewis Carroll . Of note, in this book Alice truly resembles Alice Liddell.

rebeca dutremer rabbit

“…brusquement, un beau lapin blanc aux yeux roses passa en courant tout près d’elle. Cela n’était pas particulièrement remarquable. Qu’il y avait-il de bizarre à voir passer un lapin blanc après tout?”

rebeca dutremer house

Illustrated by Rebecca Dautremer.

 

John Tenniel

Sir John Tenniel illustrated the  original Alice in Wonderland book (1865) under precise instructions from author Lewis Carroll.

“It is said that Dodgson had driven Tenniel almost crazy by providing him with so much details and instructions, and therefore he almost turned down the request when he was asked to illustrate the sequel.”

The complexity of the final drawings was such, that it was hard to engrave them in the wooden blocks used at time. The quality of the illustration did not satisfy neither Tenniel or Carroll, this edition was suppressed and a second printing was achieved (1866). A fine copy of such edition can now cost around £7,500.

This original drawings were kept black and white until 1911, when eight prints in each book were hand colored.(read more at…)

Arthur Rackham

Fairly considered one of the best Alice illustrators, Arthur Rackham (1867-1939) is on of the most preeminent illustrators ever. Rackham’s Alice was published in 1907, when the original copyright expired and many publishers commissioned new versions of the tale (several other versions  were published that year).

“For the next seven years or so I worked as hard as I could out of business hours (9–5) to equip myself as an artist — not being able to embark on a professional career till I was nearly twenty-five, and then for many years getting the barest living from my profession and having to do much distasteful hack work.” – quoted from his biography

arthur rackham cards

“At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying down upon her”

arthur rackham tea party

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