The notable artist behind these works was Margaret Keane, born Peggy Hawkins. The Keane “big eyes” paintings were quite popular in the 1960’s. At one point, her second husband Walter sold her paintings as his own work, and did “knock-offs” of her work, claiming that “paintings by men sold better than those done by women.”

The couple spilt in 1965, and she became a Jehovah’s Witness, later remarried. She continued to work, and amazingly passed away just last year, at age 94.

Tim Burton directed a biopic of her life in 2014, titled, “Big Eyes,” which starred Amy Adams.