Margaret Keane Inspired “BIG EYES” Painting

Original Painting on velvet
Cream Wood matting
Ornate wood frame with character
Signed

32”x40”

Margaret Keane (1927–2022) was an American artist best known for her “Big Eyes” portraits — melancholic children (often girls) with oversized, soulful eyes. These eyes became her trademark.

But what made her famous wasn't just the art — it was the scandal behind it.

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️‍♂️ The Art Fraud Scandal:
• In the 1950s and 60s, her husband, Walter Keane, took credit for her paintings and made millions selling them.
• Walter was a slick salesman and promoted the art under his name. Margaret, painfully shy, let it happen at first — but over time, the deceit destroyed her.
• She finally came forward in the 1970s to reclaim her name, saying she was the real artist all along.

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‍⚖️ The Courtroom Showdown:

In 1986, Margaret sued Walter for defamation — and the court actually had both of them paint a portrait in front of the judge.
• Margaret completed hers in under an hour.
• Walter refused, claiming a shoulder injury.
• Verdict? Margaret won — and was legally declared the true artist of the Big Eyes paintings.

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Her Art:
• Often oil paintings, featuring children with oversized, expressive eyes, set against dark or surreal backgrounds.
• Many are emotionally evocative — evoking sadness, loneliness, or vulnerability.
• While critics once dismissed her work as kitsch, her style has been re-evaluated over time as deeply unique and culturally significant.

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