Who stole the tarts 

This engraving by Arthur Rackham captures a scene of utter disarray, dominated by a chaotic composition of figures. The monochromatic palette of sepia tones, achieved through delicate lines and cross-hatching, enhances the sense of a world turned upside down. The arrangement of figures, from the royal bench to the card-soldiers and animal jurors, defies traditional notions of legal order. Rackham destabilizes the expected hierarchical arrangement, creating a scene where the structural elements mirror the narrative chaos of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Each element, from the Queen's severe gaze to the nervous gestures of the accused, contributes to a semiotic system that exposes the absurdity of arbitrary authority. Ultimately, the engraving’s lasting impact lies in its ability to use formal elements to critique and subvert established social structures, reminding us that art often serves as a mirror reflecting—and challenging—the absurdities of our own realities.