Alice, Reciting to the Gryphon and Mock Turtle 

Scott Gustafson painted Alice, Reciting to the Gryphon and Mock Turtle with oils on canvas, though the date is not known. The image depicts a scene from Lewis Carroll’s famous book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a text that satirizes Victorian British culture and education. Gustafson’s painting shows Alice encountering two of the book’s eccentric characters. The Gryphon and Mock Turtle represent the absurd logic and nonsensical lessons Alice faces in Wonderland. Gustafson brings these fantastical creatures to life with vivid realism and his style evokes the tradition of classical children’s book illustration. The original Alice books were published at a time of great change in British society and culture. While seemingly innocent, Carroll’s work offered a subtle critique of social norms and the rigid educational system of the time. Historians continue to look at the original manuscripts, illustrations and cultural context of the books to understand its enduring appeal and social commentary.