Object Details
Artist
Henry Major, 1889 - 1948
Sitter
Walt Disney, 5 Dec 1901 - 15 Dec 1966
Exhibition Label
Born Chicago, Illinois
The caricaturist Henry Major reversed the roles of maker and sitter in this drawing of Walt Disney, who appears as if being drawn by one of his most famous characters, Mickey Mouse. In 1928, Disney and the cartoonist Ub Iwerks made several animated films featuring the new character. Steamboat Willie, the first to incorporate sound, was a huge success.
Disney established an animation production line that drew comparisons to automobile innovator Henry Ford’s factory in Dearborn, Michigan, attracting animators and cartoonists to the company he had established in 1923. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), Disney’s first feature-length film, established him as one of the most groundbreaking filmmakers. Bambi (1942), Cinderella (1950), and many others have followed, fostering a business that extends beyond the big screen. Today, amusement parks, live theater, cable channels, and merchandise have made the Disney name known to people worldwide.
Nacido en Chicago, Illinois
El caricaturista Henry Major invirtió los roles de retratista y modelo en esta imagen de Walt Disney, quien parece ser dibujado por uno de sus personajes más famosos: Mickey Mouse. En 1928, Disney y el humorista gráfico Ub Iwerks hicieron varias películas animadas con este nuevo personaje. El botero Willie, la primera con sonido integrado, fue un éxito rotundo.
Disney creó una línea de producción que evocaba la avanzada fábrica de autos de Henry Ford en Dearborn, Michigan, y con la cual atrajo a animadores y humoristas a su compañía, fundada en 1923. Blancanieves y los siete enanitos (1937), su primer largometraje, lo estableció como uno de los cineastas más innovadores. A este siguieron Bambi (1942), Cenicienta (1950) y muchos otros, fomentando un negocio que rebasa las pantallas de cine. Hoy, los parques de diversiones, teatros, canales de televisión por cable y artículos comercializados han dado a conocer el nombre de Disney internacionalmente.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
c. 1928
Object number
NPG.86.193
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Drawing
Medium
Graphite on paper
Dimensions
Sheet: 17.8 × 16.4 cm (7 × 6 7/16")
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Artwork\Painting
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Nature & Environment\Animal\Mouse
Art implements\Easel
Personal Attribute\Teeth
Walt Disney: Male
Walt Disney: Business and Finance\Businessperson
Walt Disney: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Film director
Walt Disney: Arts and Culture\Performing Arts\Film\Film producer
Walt Disney: Arts and Culture\Visual Arts\Artist\Animator
Walt Disney: Performing arts awards\Academy Award
Walt Disney: Civilian awards\Presidential Medal of Freedom
Walt Disney: Civilian awards\Congressional Gold Medal
Walt Disney: Performing arts awards\Emmy Award
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_NPG.86.193