Arthur Rackham, R.W.S. (London 1867-1939)

In 1907 the original copyright of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland expired, and a number of new editions were published. Perhaps the most successful was Heinemann’s, illustrated by Rackham with thirteen colour plates and fifteen line drawings. Rackham’s distinctive linear style perfectly captures the fantastical nature of Alice’s adventures. The present drawing is a study for plate eleven, The Mock Turtle drew a long breath and said, 'That's very curious', which depicts the Turtle seated on a ledge with Alice and the Gryphon, as Alice recounts the story of her adventures.