Margaret Keane, whose paintings of large-eyed children in the middle of the last century have made her a household name for art history, has since become more famous for her marriage and the injustice she suffered than for her work. Tim Burton’s 2014 film Big Eyes, in particular, reinforced this reputation. Yet, the artist has become a significant source of inspiration for many design fields through her work. While Keane’s paintings were heavily criticized by critics of the time, they were deeply loved and embraced by the public, and her large-eyed figures were even printed on plates and mugs, effectively entering many homes. On the other hand, the doll market was the most crucial area affected by the Keane style, which also influenced the cartoon industry. The large-eyed figures of Margaret Keane, known as the Queen of Kitsch, are known to have influenced the designs of many dolls, including Little Miss No Name, Blythe, and Susie Sad Eyes. These dolls, released in the third quarter of the 20th century, are still offered for sale on numerous online shopping and auction platforms worldwide today and are purchased at high prices by many collectors. Using historical research techniques, this study aims to investigate the influence of the large-eyed figures of Margaret Keane, the renowned 1950s painter, on toy design and to observe the integration of the fields of art and design.

Art and design, Margaret Keane, pop surrealism, doll, big eyes.