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:
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.
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.
wonderful ! ..great composition jeanette love the way the head is twisted round .
so adorable. i love the cropping!
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