Willy Pogany and His Flapper Alice in Wonderland


Travel Back in Time to The Jazz Age with Willy Pogany’s 1929 Flapper Alice in Wonderland

Over the years, a veritable plethora of illustrators have taken a turn at Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. From time to time, I will feature some of my favorite Alice artists on this blog. Where better to start than Willy Pogany?

 

Who’s The Illustrator?

Vilmos Andreas Pogany was born in Austria-Hungary in 1882. I had to look up Austria-Hungary, because I am ignorant about European history and as far as I knew, Austria and Hungary were always separate entities and not hyphenated co-countries. (Austria-Hungary only existed from 1867 to 1918, when World War I put a damper on that union. In case you were wondering as well.) Vilmos studied art in Paris and worked as an illustrator in London for a decade or so, at some point changing his professional moniker from “Vilmos” to the catchier “Willy.” In 1914 he moved to the hyphenated kingdom of United States-Canada. I KID. He moved to the un-hyphenated* US where he continued his successful career, illustrating books and ads and magazine covers and even working as an art director in Hollywood. Pogany’s trademark style was, he didn’t have a trademark style! He was incredibly versatile and could do everything from pen and ink to watercolors, from fairy tales to ladies’ magazines. In 1929 Dutton published Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll illustrated by Willy Pogany.

 

Flapper Alice in Wonderland from 1929

 

What Makes This Alice So Special?

Well for starters, she’s a flapper! Alice wears a fashionable bob, plaid mini skirt, knee socks and looks a little older than previous Alices. In a word, she is sporty! She looks like I have always pictured Jordan Baker from The Great Gatsby. Here she is chatting with Cheshire Cat.

Flapper Alice in Wonderland talks to Cheshire Cat

Cheshire Cat has a rather giddy grin, yes?

 

Care for a better look at the Cat?

cheshire cat grins by willy pogany

Not gonna lie, kinda scary.

 

Here’s Alice meeting the fantastically haberdashed Duchess…

Flapper Alice in Wonderland meets the Duchess

Don’t worry, we’re all cringing at the Cook.

 

And crashing the March Hare’s Tea-Party…

Flapper Alice in Wonderland attends a mad tea party

Longest table ever! Also, worst scan ever. Sorry about that.

 

My personal Pogany fave? When Alice crowds the criminally cute Dormouse in the courtroom.

Alice and Dormouse in the courthouse

Girl can’t help it. She’s growing!

 

Speaking of cute, check out Pogany’s baby-turned-pig!

Cute pig used to be a baby

I’m sorry, did you say pig or fig?

 

The piece de resistance? The king and queen’s attendants as showgirls. COME ON!!!

Flapper Alice in Wonderland Courtiers

One…singular sensation…

 

In Conclusion

What do you think of Willy Pogany’s flapper Alice in Wonderland? If you love it like I do, rest assured, you have access to the rest. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland illustrated by Willy Pogany is available on Amazon in paperback for the bargain price of $6.99 (as of this writing). If these utterly charming pics don’t make you want to bob your hair, drink a Sidecar and dance the Charleston with a Dodo, I don’t know what will!

* Does it blow your mind the way I put a hyphen in un-hyphenated? It blew my mind.


About Heather Haigha

Heather Haigha is your intrepid guide for all adventures under ground, through the looking glass, down the rabbit hole and sometimes even real life! Read her whimsical musings on the Alice Is Everywhere blog, and hear the melodious sound of her voice on the Alice is Everywhere podcast.