Sunday, December 04, 2011

Kewpie doll - complete



Kewpie dolls go back to 1909, based on a comic strip-like illustration by Rosie O'Neill which appeared in Ladies Home Journal.

Their name, often shortened to "Kewpies", is derived from "cupid", the Roman god of beauty and – as Eros is the Greek version of Cupid – erotic love. The early dolls, especially signed or bisque, are highly collectible and worth thousands of dollars. The time capsule at the 1939 New York World's Fair contained a Kewpie doll. The term "Kewpie doll" is sometimes mistakenly applied to the troll doll.

This particular style of doll was awarded as a carnival prize and often collected and this is where my memory of them lies.  They were a constant at the annual Regatta and I recall coming home with one attached to a stick from many of these events.

This is the completed painting in oils on 8" x 16" canvas panel.  The underpainting was started a few days ago and left to dry before adding the final layers of paint.

4 comments:

RH Carpenter said...

Well done, Jeanette, but I find them, like clowns, a little bit creepy for some reason! I do remember having several trolls dolls with various colors in their hair.

Jeanette Jobson said...

Thanks Rhonda. Yes, perhaps the fixed expression and stiff pose can be a bit unnerving to some.

I remember my kids having those troll dolls, at least the Kewpie dolls didn't have the wild hair.

JANE MINTER said...

wonderful ! ..great composition jeanette love the way the head is twisted round .

suzanneberry said...

so adorable. i love the cropping!