Early 20th century oil on board portrait of a young schoolboy 'Le Petit Écolier', with Donald Duck, by Pierre Villain (French, 1880-1950). Signed top right, titled and with poem to the back. In period giltwood and matted frame.

This painting is very unusual in that it not only characterfully portrays the far off gaze of a bored schoolboy but also because it features a very early version of 'Donald Duck' with his signature blue cap in one of the boy's own pieces of artwork on the wall. The iconic figure of Donald Duck known and loved by many children was born/ created by Disney in 1934. A piece of social history in a work of art.

Villain was a member of the Society of French Artists (Société des Artistes Français) and was awarded their medal of honour in 1947.

Strongly rooted in European Social Realism, Villain's work shows the influences of Robert Henri and George Bellows, and bears a resemblance to work by his contemporaries, Moses and Raphael Soyer.

Dimensions: 54.5cm x 62.5cm x 2.5cm.