Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey

The Contemporary Jewish Museum presents Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey, an exhibition of nearly 80 original drawings that reveal a dramatic story of escape and survival. 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 the Reys save their animal characters, but they 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 settled in New York in the fall of 1940. In all, the Reys authored and illustrated over 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, including Hebrew and Yiddish, to the delight of readers, young and old, around the world.

Curious George Saves the Day: The Art of Margret and H. A. Rey was organized by The Jewish Museum, New York. Most of the art and documentation in the exhibition was lent by the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, McCain Library and Archives, The University of Southern Mississippi. The exhibition will be on view at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco until March 13, 2011.

About the Exhibition

The exhibition at the Contemporary Jewish Museum offers visitors a rare opportunity to view nearly 80 original drawings and vibrant watercolors of Curious George and other characters. Many of these works have never been displayed before. Preparatory dummy books, vintage photographs, and documentation related to the Reys’ escape from Nazi Europe, such as H. A. Rey’s journals detailing the couple’s perilous journey to freedom, are also included.

“This wonderful exhibition has something for all ages,” says Connie Wolf, Director and CEO of the Contemporary Jewish Museum. “Children will love seeing and learning about their favorite storybook monkey, and adults will be fascinated by the Reys’ personal story of escape and survival. Art was what saved them and allowed them to rebuild their lives. There’s quite a powerful narrative behind one little inquisitive monkey.”