Mary Robinson Blair (American, 1911-1978) Concept Art / Color Key Painting for Walt Disney's movie Song of the South (1946), gouache and watercolor on paper/cardstock. The cotton field scene depicts two African American men seated on a mule-drawn wagon, while two women and a younger man walk behind along a red clay road. Molded giltwood frame with beaded sight edge. Signed "Mary Blair" lower right. Sight: 8" H x 11" W. Framed: 11" H x 14" W. Note: a pencil inscription, "Schullstrom", en verso of backing board, may refer to Walter Schullstrom (1901-1968), who worked as an electrician at Disney during the mid 20th century.

Biography: "One of Walt Disney's favorite artists, Mary Blair learned her craft at The Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles in the mid-1930s. She joined The Walt Disney Company in 1940 where she created concept paintings for projects related to Fantasia, Dumbo, and The Lady and the Tramp. She developed a distinct look to her concept art by using vivid colors from gouache and tempera to create swirling, highly imaginative images that influenced many of Disney's feature films of the 1940s and 1950s including Song of the South, Alice in Wonderland, Cinderella, and Peter Pan. Blair left Disney in 1953 to concentrate on children's books and raising a family. In 1963 Walt Disney convinced Blair to work on Disney's contribution to the 1964 World's Fair in New York. Her concept art on this project would be her final major designs for Disney. The "It's a Small World" ride proved extremely popular at the World's Fair, and was later adapted for use in Disneyland and Disney World." Source: The Norman Rockwell Museum.

Private West Tennessee Collection.

Paper has been adhered to support board, with some acid staining to perimeter, particularly at lower right edge. Some small scattered spots of toning and faint craquelure to gouache. 1/16" stain upper right edge, sky area, near frame edge. Couple of pale streaks to upper left sky area. Tiny errant dark spot of paint to sky area. Pencil inscription "Schullstrom" en verso.