Early editions of Dickens' work often featured wood engravings rather than illustrations by a single artist. These engravings were created by various artists, and the specific artists used varied depending on the publisher and the specific edition.
However, some of the earliest and most prominent illustrators associated with Dickens' work include:
* George Cruikshank: He illustrated early works like "Sketches by Boz" and "The Pickwick Papers." He was known for his satirical and often grotesque style.
* Hablot Knight Browne (known as "Phiz"): He became Dickens' most frequent illustrator, creating iconic illustrations for novels like "Oliver Twist," "Nicholas Nickleby," and "David Copperfield."
Therefore, while there's no definitive "first" illustrator, George Cruikshank and Hablot Knight Browne were both significant figures in the early visual representation of Dickens' works.