Max

Max

Ink & Watercolor

9 1/2" x 7 1/2"


Maurice Sendak was quite fond of operas, and in 1979 collaberated with the composer Oliver Knussen on a Where the Wild Things Are opera. This is a costume design for the main character Max, with Sendak indicating the fit, colors, material, and overall look of the outfit.

This piece was part of the show Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, and 50 Reasons, which traveled to 29 museums, libraries, and galleries across the U.S. and Canada. The art was also published in the book Maurice Sendak: 1980 to the Present by Tony Kushner ( Abrams, 2003 ).

I was 5, going on 6, when the book Where the Wild Things Are was published in 1963 ... the perfect age to discover Max and the Wild Things. I fell in love with the book, and it still remains a favorite to this day.