Sir John Tenniel's 200th Birthday

“‘Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?’ [said Alice].
‘That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,’ said the Cat.”
—Lewis Carroll, “Alice’s Adventure in Wonderland”

Don’t be late for today’s very important date! That is, the 200th birthday of British illustrator and artist Sir John Tenniel, celebrated by today’s Doodle. Tenniel is one of the most highly-regarded Victorian illustrators and painters, and is perhaps best remembered for bringing to life the characters of Lewis Carroll’s timeless “Alice in Wonderland” series.

Tenniel was born in London on this day in 1820, and his talent was clear from a young age. At just 16, the mostly self-taught artist submitted his first work, an oil painting, for exhibition at the Society of British Artists. Tenniel found his calling as an illustrator in 1850 when he became a political cartoonist with the historic weekly magazine Punch. Tenniel developed a distinctive style, due in part to his near-photographic memory.

It was this unique approach that most likely caught the attention of writer and professor Charles Dodgson, whose pen name was Lewis Carroll. After an introduction in 1864, Tenniel agreed to illustrate Carroll’s new book, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” released the following year. 

Thus began a highly successful, if strained, creative partnership that continued with “Through the Looking Glass” in 1872. The result: a series of classic characters, such as Alice and the Cheshire Cat, as depicted in the Doodle artwork’s rendition of their iconic meeting—characters who, along with many others, remain beloved by readers of all ages to this day.

After his work with Caroll, Tenniel never accepted another illustration job again; instead, he returned to his political cartoon work at Punch. For his considerable contributions to both the magazine and “Alice in Wonderland,” Tenniel received a knighthood in 1893.

Tenniel’s illustrations have animated the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations. His legacy continues to thrive, as readers cherish these timeless works of art to this day. 

Doodler Q&A with Matthew Cruickshank

Today’s Doodle was created by Doodler Matthew Cruickshank from North London.
Below, he shares some thoughts on the making of the Doodle:

Q: When did you first learn about Sir John Tenniel?

A: As a child, reading “Alice In Wonderland.” I thought the combination of poetic writing and the hauntingly beautiful & bizarre illustrations were a perfect combination.

 Q: What was your creative approach for this Doodle? Why did you choose this approach?

A: I wanted to try something hand-drawn since Tenniel himself made astounding drawings that were then given to the engraver, and I wanted to at least pay homage to that initial process.

 Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle?

A: The Cheshire Cat and Alice’s conversation were the inspiration. You really can “go” anywhere you want on the homepage, depending on what you’re searching for!

Q: Are there any technical tricks you used to create this Doodle that you can share with young artists?

A: I made a very rough basic sketch, a draft, and then the final image. Enjoy and trust the process without thinking of the perfect image straight away. 

 Q: What do you hope people will take away from this Doodle?

A: I hope people are inspired to be as imaginative as Tenniel was with his work. Go fall down a rabbit hole!

Behind-the-scenes photos of the Doodle creation process by Doodler Matt Cruickshank
 

                       Studying original Tenniel illustrations at Chris Beetles Art Gallery, London

Peer through the looking glass to discover some of the beloved illustrator Sir John Tenniel’s works, from Wonderland and beyond on Google Arts & Culture. ​