Ink Test Cel of Donald Duck from Disney Studios (c. 1930s)

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Price: $1,250.00

Stock Status:In Stock

Product Code: WDC1397

Description

Private Notes

Disney Studios (c. 1930s) -
Disney Studios
This artwork appears on page 101 of Mindy Johnson's "Ink & Paint - The Women of Walt Disney's Animation"
The cel is signed "Jacqueline Steele" in the lower right corner. Comes with a custom hand-painted background.
Ink test cels do not become available very often, and it is very rare that they are signed.
Ink test cels were used by Disney Studios in the hiring process for the Ink & Paint Department. A cel such as this may have been shown to the trainees as an example of the level of quality the company expected from its artists, or conversely, it may have been an actual art test done by an applicant. Those applying to be inkers would have closely copied the linework of an example cel. For those applying to be painters, many of the painting tests were done using old production cels from Disney shorts, which were wiped clean (since the paint was applied to the back of a cel, maintaining the linework on the front) and were then re-painted by the applicant.
The cel measures 5.75" x 10".
The scene is from Mickey's Service Station (1935).

The cel has been trimmed. There is evidence of staple and pin holes in the corners of the cel, as well as one halfway along the right edge, as well as a small pucker in the cel material along the right edge, all of which could be easily matted out. There are three tiny hairline tears in the peghole, which could also be matted out. The cel has become very slightly wavy, which is common for cels of this age. There is some extremely slight paint separation in Donald's neck, left foot, and in his belly. There is some very slight mottling throughout the cel. The cel is secured to the background along the upper edge with two small strips of painter's tape, which could be easily matted out.