George Cruikshank's original engraving in 1838 of the Artful Dodger (centre), introducing Oliver (right) to Fagin (left). He was, altogether, as roistering and swaggering a young gentleman as ever stood four feet six, or something less, in the blushers. He had turned the cuffs back, half-way up his arm, to get his hands out of the sleeves: apparently with the ultimate view of thrusting them into the pockets of his corduroy trousers for there he kept them. He wore a man's coat, which reached nearly to his heels. His hat was stuck on the top of his head so lightly, that it threatened to fall off every moment-and would have done so, very often, if the wearer had not had a knack of every now and then giving his head a sudden twitch, which brought it back to its old place again. He was short of his age: with rather bow-legs, and little, sharp, ugly eyes. He was a snub-nosed, flat-browed, common-faced boy enough and as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see but he had about him all the airs and manners of a man. The Artful, meantime, who was of a rather saturnine disposition, and seldom gave way to merriment when it interfered with business, rifled Oliver's pockets with steady assiduity. Like an adult, he seldom gives in to childish urges. He is described as wearing adult clothes which are much too large for him.

The Artful Dodger is characterised as a child who acts like an adult.

In the novel, he becomes Oliver's closest friend (although he betrays Oliver when Oliver is caught) and he tries to make him a pickpocket, but soon realises that Oliver will not succeed, and feels sorry for him, saying 'What a pity it is he isn't a prig!' He also has a close relationship with Charley Bates. The term has become an idiom describing a person with skilful deception. He is the leader of the gang of child criminals on the streets of London, trained by the elderly Fagin. The Dodger is a pickpocket, so called for his skill and cunning in that occupation. Jack Dawkins, better known as the Artful Dodger, is a character in Charles Dickens's 1838 novel Oliver Twist.

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