THE ART OF MAURICE SENDAK

New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1980. First edition, first issue. With 261 illustrations, including 94 in color and an original Sendak pop-up. Square 4to, pictorial cloth in a clear printed acetate dustjacket. 278. A near mint copy, as pristine. The standard work on Sendak, author and illustrator of WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE, IN THE NIGHT CLOSET, HIGGLETY PIGGLETY POP!, and numerous other wonderful books. This is not only an impressive work simply because of the vast content of its illustrations, moveables and other Sendak art, but ranks as well as the most important reference work on the artist.
“Here is a unique world of imagination, from the squiggly line drawings of A Hole Is to Dig-Sendak’s first major professional assignment-to sketches for his latest fantasy tale and including recent designs for opera sets and animated films. The book also includes generous selections of Sendak’s early sketches and working dummies for all his important works-small-scale renderings that trace the meticulous, creative process be undergoes with each book. These porvide key insights into the artist’s mind as well as fascinating glimpses into his extraordinarily varied technique.”-publisher.