John Tenniel

Hello, my name is John Tenniel, and I am the artist who first drew the magical world of Wonderland. I was born in London, England, on February 28th, 1820. From a very young age, I had a passion for drawing. While many artists of my time studied for years at famous schools, I was mostly self-taught. I did attend the Royal Academy Schools for a short period, but I found I learned best by studying books and visiting museums on my own. My life changed forever in 1840 when I was twenty years old. During a fencing practice with my father, an accident caused me to lose sight in my right eye. I kept this a secret from almost everyone for most of my life, not wanting anyone's pity. Instead of giving up, I adapted. I learned to see the world differently and trained my left eye and my hand to work together perfectly. The injury did not stop me; it only made me more determined to succeed as an artist.

My professional career truly began in 1850 when I was invited to join the staff of a very famous weekly magazine called 'Punch.' In Victorian England, 'Punch' was incredibly popular for its clever writing, humor, and especially its political cartoons. A political cartoon is a drawing that makes a comment or a point about important events happening in the country and the world. I was given the important role of principal political cartoonist. For the next fifty years, this was my main occupation. I created over two thousand cartoons during my time at 'Punch,' drawing everything from politicians to major historical events. My work was seen by thousands of people every week, and my illustrations often helped shape public opinion, making complex issues easier for people to understand. This position made me a well-known and respected figure throughout England.

While my work for 'Punch' made me famous, the project I am most remembered for came to me in 1864. An author and mathematician named Lewis Carroll, whose real name was Charles Dodgson, asked me to illustrate a curious story he had written called 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.' He had very specific ideas about how the characters should look, and our collaboration was a detailed process. I worked carefully to bring his unique vision to life, creating the images of the nervous White Rabbit with his pocket watch, the mysterious, grinning Cheshire Cat, and the wonderfully silly Mad Hatter at his tea party. The book was published in 1865, and it was a success. From that moment on, my drawings became forever linked with Alice's journey down the rabbit-hole. It seemed my art was the perfect match for her peculiar and magical world.

Following the success of the first book, Lewis Carroll and I began working together again on a sequel. This new story was called 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There,' and it was published in 1871. Illustrating these books was incredibly demanding work. I had to create dozens of detailed drawings that perfectly captured the strange logic of Carroll's writing. We had a small disagreement over one of my illustrations for this book—the drawing of the fearsome Jabberwock. I was quite proud of the monster I had created, but Carroll worried it might be too frightening for his young readers. We eventually found a solution, but the intensity of the work was significant. After completing the illustrations for 'Through the Looking-Glass,' I decided it was time to return my full focus to my political cartooning at 'Punch,' leaving the world of children's books behind.

I continued my work as the principal political cartoonist for 'Punch' for many more years, drawing the events of my time until I finally retired in 1901. My long career brought me a great deal of respect, and in 1893, I received the highest honor of my life. Queen Victoria herself recognized my contributions to art and public life by making me a knight. It was a remarkable moment for an artist who had started out mostly teaching himself. From that day forward, I was to be known as Sir John Tenniel. It was a wonderful tribute and a proud achievement for a humble illustrator who simply loved to draw.

I lived a very long and full life. I lived to be 93 years old, passing away in 1914. It is a wonderful thing to know that my art has lived on long after me. While my political cartoons for 'Punch' captured the history of the Victorian era, I am most remembered for giving a face to Alice and all the curious characters she met in Wonderland. My drawings of the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts, and Alice herself have helped children imagine that magical world for over a century. Knowing that my art continues to bring stories to life is a legacy I will always cherish.