John Tenniel’s illustration “Alice and the Mock Turtle” captures a whimsical scene from Lewis Carroll’s beloved tale. A melancholic Mock Turtle, a creature resembling a mix of turtle and calf, sits on a rocky beach wiping a tearful eye with a handkerchief. Perched on its back is a wide-eyed Alice, attentively listening to the Mock Turtle’s woes. The fantastical landscape stretches out behind them, filled with peculiar rock formations and distant sailboats that appear to be floating in the sky. The illustration’s black and white contrast accentuates the characters’ expressive features and the dreamlike quality of Wonderland.
1930/USA