Attributed to Tim Burton – Jack Skellington...

Christmas Character Study – Ink and Watercolor on Paper. Whimsical and highly recognizable character study depicting Jack Skellington in a Christmas-themed composition, presented in the unmistakable visual language associated with The Nightmare Before Christmas. The elongated figure is shown wearing a red Santa-style costume, holding a large sack while standing beside a brightly wrapped gift, with two small snow-covered houses appearing in the lower left background.

The composition combines delicate black ink outlines with transparent watercolor washes in red, green, ochre, lavender and gray. The extremely elongated proportions, skeletal face, expressive stance and playful holiday imagery create a strong Gothic-fantasy character consistent with the visual universe associated with Tim Burton. The restrained background allows the figure to dominate the sheet, while the handwritten quality of the line gives the work the intimacy and spontaneity of an original character or concept study.

The work bears a handwritten signature at the lower right appearing to read “Tim Burt…”, visible in the image. The reverse is largely blank and shows no clearly legible inscriptions, labels or stamps in the supplied photograph.

TECHNIQUE
Ink and watercolor on paper.

Unframed: 11 x 7 3/4 in.

PROVENANCE
Private collection.