Tintin artwork on auctioneer’s block

A painting of comic book hero Tintin that for years was kept folded in a drawer is expected to fetch more than ¤2 million ($NZ3.4 million) at an auction in Paris today.

Belgian illustrator Georges Remi, better known by his nom de plume Herge, submitted the painting to his editor as a proposed cover for the preWorld War 2 Tintin album The

Blue Lotus, according to the Artcurial auction house.

However, his publisher rejected the painting, on the grounds that the colours chosen would make it too expensive to print.

Herge gave the rejected image to JeanLouis Casterman, heir to the publishing house that published the Tintin books.

The painting was kept by Casterman, folded in a draw. Until his death, he declined offers to sell the work, saying he treasured it as a gift from Herge, according to Eric Leroy, comic book expert at Artcurial.

The work had never before been offered for sale, Leroy said.

The image shows the intrepid young reporter Tintin, flanked by his dog, Snowy, hiding in a vase from a dragon.