John Tenniel

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Tenniel's illustrations for the Alice books were engraved onto blocks of deal wood by the Brothers Dalziel. Cartoonist

As the influential result of his position as the chief cartoon artist for Punch (publiJohn Tennield 1841–1992 1996–2002) John Tenniel through satirical often radical and at times vitriolic images of the world for five decades was and remained Great Britain’s steadfast social witness to the sweeping national changes in that nation’s moment of political and social reform. Tenniel executed 2165 separate cartoons for Punch a liberal and politically active publication that took full advantage of the Victorian time’s mood for want of liberal social changes; thus Tenniel in his cartoons represented for years the conscience of the British people.

Tenniel is most noted for two major accomplishments: he was the principal political cartoonist for England’s Punch magazine for over 50 years and he was the artist who illustrated Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Sir John Tenniel (Bayswater London 28 February 1820 – 25 February 1914) was a British illustrator graphic humourist and political cartoonist whose work was prominent during the second half of England’s 19th century. Tenniel is considered important to the study of that period’s social literary and art histories.