Alice Illustrations

Robi Dwi Antono

Part of a special Inky Parrot commemorative edition, Robi Dwi Antono illustrations are likely the most disturbing Alice interpretation ever published. Roby Dwi Antono is a young Indonesian surreal artist,  that creates an astonishing mix of  candid-terrifying figures, apparently deeply rooted on  Carroll´s Alice in the Wonderland. Robi Dwi, however, refers to his work as “heavily influenced by masters like Mark Ryden and Marion Peck”. A visit to Rosie’s Tea Party (Mark Ryden) or Marion Peck’s Animals exhibition easily confirms that.

Inky Parrot/Artists’ Choice Editions in the UK, in the “Mad Tea Party” chapter, 2015. (Only 340 standard copies printed, numbered and casebound and 56 Special copies, bound quarter leather with a folder containing four prints portraying Alice).

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Andrea D’Aquino

This is likely one of the most beautiful contemporary illustrations of Alice’s adventures. Celebrating the 150th anniversary of Carroll’s book, Andrea D’Aquino has retold the story with hundred of colorful astonishing  illustrations. As commented elsewhere  “D’ Aquino illustrative ramblings run the gamut from watercolor to collage to everything in between, and it’s perhaps because of this cataclysmic range that she was chosen to illustrate this fantastic tale”. 

Awarded by American Illustration 2016, D´Aquino said “It’s my favorite book, but by no means had I ever considered illustrating it” – however – “when I was asked to illustrate it, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I know a great opportunity when it hits me over the head!”

The result could’t have been better…

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“The Caterpillar, perhaps the most psychedelic, explodes in reds and purples.”

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Published as part of Rockport Publishers’ Classics Reimagined series (2015).

Alfred Edward Jackson

AE Jackson was born in 1873. He was an exceptional and awarded student at the Camden School of Art, at the age of 18 his work was already in exhibition at the Royal Academy.

He started is long career as an illustrator of well known magazines and comics, and only a few years later has he produced his unforgettable and bestseller versions of  Gulliver’s Travels (1914),  Alice’s Adventures  (1915), Tales From Shakespeare (1919), The Water Babies (1920), Tales from the Arabian Nights (1920) and Robinson Crusoe (1921).

His dazzling purples, pinks and muted blues gave live to an extraordinary Alice.

(first published by Hoddern and Stoughton and by Milford in 1915)

Charles Folkard

Charles Folkard was a gifted and highly productive illustrator of children’s books. His illustrations of  Pinocchio, the Children’s Shakespeare and Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the Arabian Nights are among some of his most notorious works. Folkard is also recognised for the Daily Mail cartoon strips The Adventures of Teddy Tail, which were later published as a series of books.

His Alice’s illustrations were first published  as Songs from Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass (A. & C. Black, 1921). Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland  using these same illustrations was only published in 1929 (also by A. & C. Black). Beautiful, as you can see…