Heritage Auctions continues to offer absolutely stunning, rare animation art, and I look forward to each new selection of artwork. I wished I would have made a bid on the piece pictured above. At first glance it looks like one of many Fred Moore girl sketches. When I took a closer look, I couldn't help but be reminded of a painting by French painter Paul Gauguin. Call me crazy to make this connection, but Moore's fully bodied proportions as well as his choice of color just might have been inspired by this Gauguin painting depicting two Tahitian women.
I understand that Fred was not interested in art history or attending art classes at Disney for that matter. But look at the girl's expression. Her mood is serious and reflective like the woman on the right in Gauguin's painting. The color palette is very similar to the woman on the left.
Fred just might have seen this Gauguin painting in an art book.
