Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2012) Untitled (Max Terrorizing the Dog), preliminary sketch for Where the Wild ...

Description

Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2012)
Untitled (Max Terrorizing the Dog), preliminary sketch for Where the Wild Things Are, circa 1963
Watercolor and ink on board
4-1/8 x 5-1/2 inches (10.5 x 14.0 cm) (image)

PROVENANCE:
The artist;
Acquired by the present owner from the above, 1994;
Rosenbach Museum & Library, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, donation from the above, 2019;
Deaccessioned and reacquired by the present owner from the above, 2025.

EXHIBITED:
Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, "Monsters, Mickey and Mozart: The Art of Maurice Sendak," March 15-May 18, 2003;
The Jewish Museum, New York, "Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak," April 15-August 14, 2005.

LITERATURE:
J.G. Schiller, D.M.V. David, L.S. Marcus, Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work, New York, 2013, p. 197, illustrated.

Max Terrorizing the Dog is a fully realized watercolor conceived for Maurice Sendak's seminal Where the Wild Things Are (1963), illustrating the story's opening line:

"The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind ... and another."

The present work represents the original image Sendak prepared for the phrase "and another," later replaced with the revised version that appeared in the published book. In this charming early conception, young Max—still in his wolf costume pajamas—creeps toward his dog in a playful act of mischief. On the wall behind him hangs a drawing from Max's imagination: a fantastical vision of the wild things yet to come. This whimsical vignette captures Sendak's early exploration of character and narrative, offering a rare glimpse into the genesis of one of the most beloved stories in children's literature.

This pivotal watercolor bridges imagination and development, revealing the artist's meticulous process from concept to finished illustration. Its vitality and humor forecast the psychological complexity that would make Where the Wild Things Are a timeless masterpiece. As scholar Selma G. Lanes observed, "In Where the Wild Things Are, Sendak not only changed forever the way picture books were perceived, but he also revolutionized their psychological depth, bridging the complex worlds of childhood fantasy and emotional truth" (The Art of Maurice Sendak, New York, 1980, p. 107).

Sendak's legacy in children's literature is unmatched. Over his career he received the Caldecott Medal (1964), the Hans Christian Andersen International Medal (1970), and the National Medal of Arts (1996), honors recognizing his artistic daring and emotional honesty in portraying childhood's full spectrum—from wonder and mischief to loneliness and growth.

The historical provenance of this work underscores its exceptional importance. Purchased directly from Sendak in 1994, it was later gifted to the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, long home to the artist's archive. Subsequently deaccessioned and reacquired by the original owner, the work is now offered publicly for the first time since its creation.

Notably, another drawing from this group achieved a record auction price of $625,000 at Heritage in May 2025—a testament to the enduring power and market significance of Sendak's original illustrations.


More information about Maurice Sendak. See also: Sendak, Maurice, Maurice Bernard Sendak Artist.

Estimate: $50,000 - $70,000.

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