Ink Test Cel of Minnie Mouse from Disney Studios (c. 1930s)

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Price: $5,500.00

Stock Status:In Stock

Product Code: WDC1396

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 "Castle" 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 4.25" x 10".

The scene is from Puppy Love (1933).

The cel has been trimmed. There is evidence of pinholes and staple holes along the lower edge and in the corners of the cel, with a group of slightly larger holes in the upper left corner, which could all be easily matted out. The cel has become very slightly wavy which is common for cels of this age. There is evidence of some slight paint separation, with slight paint loss, in Minnie's face near her left eye, as well as some slight paint separation in her face, left glove, her ears, and in her skirt. There is a small hairline scratch in the cel running through her skirt. There is a tiny speck of mottling along the right edge, which is only noticeable upon close inspection. 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.