Boy with Poodle (Big Eyes)
Original oil painting on canvas • Margaret Keane (1927–2022)
Style & Movement
American Kitsch / Mid-Century Pop Art (Big Eyes movement)
Medium & Technique
Oil on canvas; utilize smooth glazing and sfumato-like blending to achieve the characteristic misty, melancholic look.
Creation Period
Circa 1960s
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 24 x 12 inches; vertical rectangular (portrait) format.
Subject Description
A young boy with disproportionately large, expressive eyes holding a white toy poodle. The composition is focused on the emotional connection and the signature 'waif' aesthetic, symbolizing vulnerability and innocence.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Very Good; the canvas appears taut with minimal visible surface grime and the original period frame remains intact.
Estimated Market Value
$5,000 – $12,000 USD
Auction Estimate
$4,000 – $8,000 USD
Provenance History
Likely purchased during the height of Keane's popularity in the 1960s; reflects direct-to-consumer sales or gallery acquisition from the Keane Eyes Gallery era.
Art Historical Significance
Highly significant as a representative work of Margaret Keane, whose life and legal battle against her husband Walter for credit of her work became a landmark case in art history and the subject of the film 'Big Eyes'.
Notable Features
Distinctive 'KEANE' signature in block lettering in the lower-left corner; original mid-century 'liner' style frame common to Keane's commercial distribution.
Condition Issues
Minor frame abrasions; potential slight yellowing of varnish consistent with age; possible faint craquelure in heavier white pigment areas of the dog.
Conservation Recommendations
Professional surface cleaning to remove dust; UV-protective glazing if displayed near windows; maintain stable humidity levels to prevent canvas expansion/contraction.