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Salvador Dalí’s Rarely Seen ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Illustrations Are Finally Reissued

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Frontispiece for “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”
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The incredible artistic mind of Salvador Dalí knew no limits, as evidenced by everything from Dalí's illustrated cookbook to his logo design for Chupa Chups. But there is no better pairing for the avant-garde master of Surrealism than the fantasy land created by Lewis Carroll in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Luckily for us, a visionary editor at Random House saw the connection and commissioned Dalí to illustrate a limited edition of the classic in 1969.

Dalí created twelve heliogravures for the occasion—one illustration for each chapter—as well as a four-color etching as the frontispiece. Only 2,700 of the edition were printed, and the artist signed each original etching. Of course, with copies becoming increasingly rare, the prices have skyrocketed, but luckily Dalí lovers can rejoice in knowing that Princeton University Press recently reissued an affordable copy.

Those with a keen eye will immediately pick out some of Dalí's signature imagery woven into the illustrations. The girl jumping rope in the frontispiece comes from his Landscape with Girl Skipping Rope and the iconic melting clock from The Persistence of Memory finds a nice home at the center of the Mad Hatter's tea party.

The incredible example of cultural cross-pollination is enhanced with essays by mathematician and Dalí collaborator Thomas Banchoff and Mark Burstein, president of the Lewis Carroll Society of North America.

In 1969, Salvador Dalí created illustrations for a limited edition of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The rare work was recently reissued and is now available to Dalí lovers everywhere.

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Mad Tea Party

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The Queen’s Croquet Ground

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

Advice From a Caterpillar

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The Mock Turtle’s Story

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

The Pool of Tears

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

Down the Rabbit Hole

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Alice’s Evidence

Salvador Dali Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The Lobster’s Quadrille

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

The Caucus Race and a Long Tale

Salvador Dalí - Alice in Wonderland

Pig and Pepper

h/t: [Open Culture, Brain Pickings]

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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