Image Dimensions: 6 7/8 x 5 1/8 in (17.4 x 13 cm)
Framed Dimensions: 14 7/8 x 12 3/4 in (37.8 x 32.5 cm)

Provenance and Authentication:
According to the Letter of Authenticity (LOA) and Certificate of Authenticity (COA) provided by the consignor, this collectible was subjected to a forensic examination. The accompanying documentation states that the signatures were evaluated with reference to multiple characteristics, including ink deposition, material and aging characteristics, stylistic consistency, and historical context. Based on the examination described in these documents, the authentication provider concluded that the findings were consistent with the attributed signatures. The LOA and COA provided by the consignor accompany the lot.

A signed figural drawing by celebrated author and illustrator Ludwig Bemelmans (1898-1962), depicting a character wearing an elaborate and brightly colored headdress. Executed with spontaneous black linework and vivid passages of red, orange, blue, and violet, the composition uses remarkably economical marks to establish both personality and costume. Signed "Bemelmans" beneath the figure and presented framed.

The drawing displays the lively graphic economy closely associated with Bemelmans's illustration work. Rather than relying upon elaborate modeling, the artist establishes the face with only a few expressive contours, allowing the colorful headdress and clothing to provide the principal visual accents. The combination of loose draftsmanship and freely applied color gives the figure an engaging sense of immediacy and character.

Ludwig Bemelmans became one of the defining figures of 20th-century children's illustration, best known as the creator of the beloved Madeline books. Beyond that celebrated series, his artistic world encompassed portraits, travel, urban life, and an extensive range of character studies. Combining expressive figuration, vivid color, and the artist's signature, the present framed drawing offers appealing crossover interest for collectors of classic illustration, children's literature, and 20th-century works on paper.