Art
Curious George Saves The Day: The Art of Margret and H.A. Rey
Sunday, March 14, 2010 - Sunday, August 1, 2010
Curious George, the impish monkey protagonist of many adventures, may never have seen the light of day if it were not for the determination and courage of his creators: illustrator H. A. Rey (1898–1977) and his wife, author and artist Margret Rey (1906–1996). They were both born in Hamburg to Jewish families and lived together in Paris from 1936 to 1940.
Hours before the Nazis marched into the city in June 1940, the Reys fled on bicycles carrying drawings for their children’s stories, including one about a mischievous monkey, then named Fifi. Not only did they save their animal characters, but the Reys themselves were saved by their illustrations when authorities found them in their belongings.
This may explain why saving the day after a narrow escape became the premise of most of their curious George stories. After their fateful escape from Paris and a four-month journey across France, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, the couple reached New York in the fall of 1940. In all, the Reys authored and illustrated over thirty books, most of them for children, with seven of them starring Curious George.
The exhibition at The Jewish Museum will feature nearly eighty original drawings and vibrant watercolors of the beloved monkey and other characters. Many of these works have never been on display before. Preparatory dummy books, vintage photographs, and documentation related to the Reys’ escape from Nazi Europe are also included. One of the exhibition galleries will be transformed into a reading room for visitors of all ages.
MUSEUM HOURS :
Sunday 11:00 am - 5:45 pm
Monday 11:00 am - 5:45 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am - 5:45 pm
Wednesday CLOSED
Thursday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am - 4:00 pm (EST)
Saturday 11:00 am - 5:45 pm
