Walter Stanley Keane (October 7, 1915 – December 27, 2000) was an American artist who became widely known in the mid-20th century for owning and promoting a series of sentimental paintings of children with unusually large eyes. He was also accused and later legally determined to have misrepresented the true authorship of those works, and has been described as a plagiarist.
Rise to fame
Beginning in the 1950s, Keane built a commercial art enterprise around these melancholic figures. He handled the marketing, sold prints and licensing rights, and cultivated a public image as the painter behind the popular images. The reproductions became ubiquitous in calendars, advertisements and mass-market prints, bringing substantial income and public recognition to the Keane name.
Dispute over authorship
Behind the scenes, the paintings were created by his then-wife, Margaret Keane. For years Walter claimed credit for the work and presented himself as the creator. The disagreement over who actually painted the images eventually turned into a public and legal battle. In a widely reported 1986 court proceeding, a judge ordered both parties to produce a painting to settle the question. Walter declined to do so, citing a shoulder injury, while Margaret completed a work in the courtroom. The judge’s decision favored Margaret and recognized her as the true artist.
Later years and cultural legacy
After the court ruling, Margaret continued to produce and sign her own work, and the controversy has remained a notable example of disputes over artistic credit and exploitation in the art market. Walter Keane continued to publicly maintain his authorship for much of his later life. He died in 2000. The story of the Keanes has inspired books, articles and dramatizations that explore questions of creativity, fame and authorship.