Curious George Saves The Day | Chrysler Museum of Art

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The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey

Curious George, the impish monkey protagonist of many adventures, may never have seen the light of day were it 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, Germany, 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.

H. A. Rey, final illustration for “He crawled into bed and fell asleep at once” — H. A. Rey, final illustration for “He crawled into bed and fell asleep at once,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France, 1939–40, watercolor, charcoal, and color pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi. Curious George, and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2011 by HMH.

After their fateful escape from Paris and a four-month journey across France, Spain, Portugal, and Brazil, the couple settled in New York in the fall of 1940. In all, the Reys authored and illustrated more than 30 books, most of them for children, with seven of them starring Curious George.

Seventy years after the arrival of Curious George in America, the monkey’s antics have been translated into over a dozen languages to the delight of readers, young and old, around the world.

H. A. Rey, black color separation for “At breakfast George’s friend said” — H. A. Rey, black color separation for “At breakfast George’s friend said,” Curious George Rides a Bike (1952), watercolor and charcoal on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi. Curious George, and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2011 by HMH.

H. A. Rey, final illustration for “One day George saw a man. He had on a large yellow straw hat” — H. A. Rey, final illustration for “One day George saw a man. He had on a large yellow straw hat,” published in The Original Curious George (1998), France, 1939–40, watercolor, charcoal, and color pencil on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi. Curious George, and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2011 by HMH.

H. A. Rey, final illustration for “George climbed up until he was in the sunshine again, high above the rain cloud,” Raffy and the 9 Monkeys (1939), later published as Cecily G. and the 9 Monkeys (1942), Paris, 1939, watercolor on paper. H. A. & Margret Rey Papers, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi. Curious George, and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. © 2011 by HMH.

More special exhibitions

On view right now

Through January 19, 2025

2024 Fall Glass Studio Assistant Exhibition
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Peter Bremers Sapphire Ice Cave - Glass Object

Through January 19, 2025

Peter Bremers: Ice to Water
Exhibition Details