Mourning the passing of a genius - RIP Maurice Sendak

[icon_uk]

Given his contribution to the field of the graphic medium, I do feel this is appropriate for Scans_Daily (and the "legality" post will also explain it)

The BBC, and others, report that Maurice Sendak, the American illustrator who gave the world "Where the Wild Things Are" and "In the Night Kitchen" amongst others has died at the age of 83 following complications from a stroke.

Whether it was Max and his Wild Rumpus in Where the Wild Things Are



Or my personal favourite, the strange (almost creepy) vibes to be found In the Night Kitchen (Sort of like Winsor Mackay's dream logic in many respects) his artwork is instantly recognisable, and you never once felt he was talking down to his young audience.



Some of his work was pretty harrowing in it's way and he illustrated the work of other authors without a qualm, he drew llutrsations for "grown up books" as well as for kids, and some of the kids work was a lot more intense than the ostensibly adult stuff. He had few illusions about the world, which makes what he did draw seem even odder when you think about it.

Here is Art "Maus" Spiegelman's pictorial version of a meeting they had nearly 20 years ago, which illustrates this better than I could hope to. (and I'm indebted to Tumblr for showing me these pages).




Thank you for making my childhood that little bit stranger Mr Sendak, and I'm hoping that wherever you are, there's the mother of all Wild Rumpus' for you to enjoy!

Comments

[hazmat]

I remember reading this in Metamaus, and I enjoyed reading it again, here. Thanks for sharing. :)

[crabby_lioness]

Let's not forget the Little Bear series he did. My children just voted that one their current favorite of his works.

(Granted, 1/3 of the voters can't read yet....)

[salinea]

thanks for posting this.

[fungo_squiggly]

The loss of Maurice Sendak is a terrible one indeed. The man's stories were iconic. I still have my childhood copy of Where the Wild Things Are.

I think it's awesome that, even in his final years, he kept up his creative spirit and his incredibly quirky attitude.

[michael_ellis_day]

That piece first appeared in the New Yorker. I've been wishing all day I still had my copy and could dig it out to reread, so thank you for putting it here! I've never forgotten his description of childhood as quoted above. (Has anyone, after having read it?)

This and the glorious Colbert interview may be the only portrait of Sendak anyone needs besides his work itself.

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/406796/january-24-2012/grim-colberty-tales-with-maurice-sendak-pt--1

[maseiken]

Sad to hear the news. Loved to read the comic.

[silverzeo]

The dude has an long lasting legacy...

[cleome45]

<3 <3 <3

All of Sendak's phases had their own distinct personalities. My favorite book of his was Higgledy Piggledy Pop. Jennie the Dog seemed like much more of a go-getter than most human female heroines in most fairytales that I was familiar with. :D

[q99]

Oh, I didn't realize he did In the Night Kitchen too!

I loved both those books as a kid ^^

And I love that little comic there.

[kraesil]

I don't know his works as well as you guys do, considering where I live, but I morn his passing all the same.

[whitesycamore]

In the Night Kitchen is my favourite of his books too.

I liked how he wasn't afraid to write books that were simple but dealt with complex emotions, including forbidden, destructive ones. He didn't indulge or encourage those feelings, but he acknowledged that they were there.

One of the details I love the most is in Outside Over There. While Ida is furious with anger and sadness you can see the view of the open window behind her--and her father's ship going down in a tempest. It's clear that this isn't supposed to be a literal view of 'reality.'

And the weird thing is, when I was reading that to a very small girl it didn't even confuse her. She seemed to be able to grasp the non-literal narrative of the story intuitively. I think it's that ability of Maurice Sendak to connect to something dreamlike and primal that really marked his genius.

[thistleburr]

He was a man who understood that one of the functions of art is to help people make sense of the bad things in their lives, and that children have bad things to make sense of too. He understood that art must contain truth, regardless of the age of the audience. He'll be missed.

[superfangirl1]

R.I.P :(

[deleonjh]

Vidal Sassoon's also dead.

I felt like I should mention that somewhere.