Google’s new Doodle is “curiouser and curiouser.”
In celebration of the 200th birthday of Sir John Tenniel, the English artist behind Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland” books, Google’s homepage features an illustration inspired by the iconic drawings that accompanied the classic children’s tale.
Tenniel, born in Bayswater, London, on Feb. 28, 1820, is considered one of the most influential Victorian artists of his time.
“Tenniel’s illustrations have animated the imaginations of children and adults alike for generations,” Google said in a statement. “His legacy continues to thrive, as readers cherish these timeless works of art to this day.”
His gift was apparent at a young age. In 1836, at 16, the self-taught artist submitted an oil painting to the prestigious Society of British Artists, and was admitted into the Royal Academy Schools in 1842. In 1850, Tenniel landed work as a political cartoonist for British weekly satire magazine Punch — a role that would bookend his career.
The cartoonist met one Charles Dodgson in 1864, the man who penned work under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. The next year, Tenniel’s work appeared in Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
The creative duo’s relationship is said to have been acrimonious at times, although Tenniel continued to work with Carroll through 1872’s “Through the Looking-Glass” — his last collaboration with the controversial author. Tenniel soon returned to his seat at Punch to continue work as a cartoonist, and never returned to book illustration.
In 1893, Tenniel was knighted by Queen Victoria for his contribution to the arts, for his work in Punch and “Alice in Wonderland.” He died on Feb. 25, 1914, at age 93.
Google’s Doodle spotlights London-based illustrator Matthew Cruickshank, who drew by hand an image in the style of Tenniel. The image depicts Alice, standing in for the “L” in “Google,” looking up into a tree’s canopy where the Cheshire Cat is nestled in its limbs, smiling down at the girl.
Cruickshank first discovered Tenniel’s work “as a child, reading ‘Alice In Wonderland,'” he said in a statement. “I thought the combination of poetic writing and the hauntingly beautiful and bizarre illustrations were a perfect combination.”
Of his Alice rendition, Cruickshank said, “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.”
“The Cheshire Cat and Alice’s conversation were the inspiration,” he continued. “You really can ‘go’ anywhere you want on the homepage, depending on what you’re searching for! 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 straightaway.”
“I hope people are inspired to be as imaginative as Tenniel was with his work. Go fall down a rabbit hole,” he added.
