Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2012). Max Arriving at the Island of Wild Things, Where the Wild Things Are first drawing...

Description

Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2012)
Max Arriving at the Island of Wild Things, Where the Wild Things Are first drawing, 1963
Watercolor and ink on board
6-1/4 x 20-3/8 inches (15.9 x 51.8 cm) (image)

Property Being Sold to Benefit the Rosenbach Museum & Library's Acquisitions Fund

PROVENANCE:
The artist;
Acquired by the present owner from the above, 1994.

LITERATURE:
J.G. Schiller, D.M.V. David, L.S. Marcus, Maurice Sendak: A Celebration of the Artist and His Work, New York, 2013, pp. 198-99, illustrated.

Never before has a Maurice Sendak drawing of this historical and artistic magnitude been offered publicly. The present work-Sendak's very first illustration for his landmark book, Where the Wild Things Are (1963)-marks not only a critical turning point in the artist's celebrated career but also a monumental event in the history of children's literature.

Executed in 1963, the work depicts the now-iconic moment when Max, the young protagonist, arrives by boat at the fantastical island inhabited by the "Wild Things." Here, the Wild Things appear leaner, somewhat gentler, yet still vibrant, reflecting Sendak's early conception of characters who would later become enduring symbols of imagination and childhood adventure. This pivotal watercolor directly inspired the final, award-winning illustrations published in the seminal book, revealing Sendak's meticulous visual development from initial concept to finished masterpiece.

Sendak's profound influence on children's literature cannot be overstated. Renowned scholar Selma G. Lanes notes: "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). Indeed, Sendak's ability to navigate the landscape of a child's imagination, blending fantasy, fear, joy, and vulnerability, secured him a place as the preeminent children's illustrator of the twentieth century.

Throughout his illustrious career, Sendak received numerous honors, including the Caldecott Medal for Where the Wild Things Are (1964), the Hans Christian Andersen International Medal (1970), and the National Medal of Arts (1996). These distinctions recognize not only his artistic brilliance but also his courage in exploring themes traditionally considered taboo for children's books-loneliness, anger, and the complexity of emotional growth.

The historical provenance of this drawing further underscores its singular importance. Purchased directly from Sendak in 1994, it was initially intended as a promised gift to The Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, then home to Sendak's extensive archive for decades. Due to an unforeseen shift in circumstances following the artist's death in 2012, and the complex legal resolution concerning Sendak's bequest, this extraordinary drawing has unexpectedly become available for public auction and is being sold to benefit the acquisitions fund of the Rosenbach Museum & Library. All of the final, published illustrations from Where the Wild Things Are remain permanently in the Maurice Sendak Foundation's collection, ensuring this unprecedented offering is not only unique but unparalleled in rarity.

It is fitting that Sendak's first conceptual rendering of Max's imaginative journey should possess a story worthy of the artist himself. This double-page illustration stands alone as the definitive Sendak work ever to come to market-a true literary and artistic treasure, embodying Sendak's genius in capturing childhood's profound truths and emotional depths. As a pivotal moment in cultural history, this watercolor is destined to be remembered as one of the most significant artworks in the history of children's literature ever made publicly available.


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



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