W. W. Denslow

William Wallace Denslow (May 5, 1856 – March 29, 1915) was an American illustrator and caricaturist remembered for his work in collaboration with author L. Frank Baum, especially his illustrations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Denslow was an editorial cartoonist with a strong interest in politics,[citation needed] which has fueled political interpretations of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

'One of the best known—and most loved—stories in all of American literature, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was first published in 1900. The book featured numerous charming illustrations by Baum’s friend and collaborator W.W. Denslow, including one based on the present original pen and ink drawing. Here we see the novel’s young protagonist, Dorothy, chastising the Cowardly Lion for his frightening behavior. Accompanying her are the Tin Woodman, Toto, and the Scarecrow, whose floppy arm dangles out of the frame, inviting the viewer to enter the illustration’s imaginative space. '- NYPL