Margaret Keane
Margaret Keane
Full Name and Common Aliases
Margaret Keane is best known by her pen name, "Watteau." She was an American artist and painter who gained international recognition for her watercolor portraits.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on September 15, 1919, in Nashville, Tennessee, Margaret Keane passed away on June 26, 2023, at the age of 103.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Margaret Keane was an American painter, known for her watercolor portraits. Her work spanned over five decades, during which she gained international recognition and acclaim.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, Margaret developed a love for art at an early age. She began taking classes at the Nashville Art Students League when she was just nine years old. After graduating from high school, Keane moved to Chicago to attend the Art Institute of Chicago. However, she eventually dropped out due to financial constraints.
Major Accomplishments
Margaret Keane's artistic career gained momentum in the 1950s with her watercolor portraits. Her work often featured children and adults together, capturing their relationships through gentle expressions and tender interactions. These portraits became incredibly popular, and Keane received numerous commissions for her work.
In the late 1960s, Margaret began working on a series of large-scale watercolors featuring people from different cultural backgrounds. This series showcased her ability to capture the essence of various cultures through subtle facial expressions and body language. Her work not only gained international recognition but also sparked conversations about cultural diversity and understanding.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Margaret Keane's most notable works include "The Children" (1965), which showcases a mother and son interacting in a tender moment, and "A Family" (1970), featuring a group of people from different cultures coming together. These portraits not only demonstrate her skill as an artist but also highlight her ability to capture the essence of human relationships.
Impact and Legacy
Margaret Keane's work has had a significant impact on the art world, inspiring artists and collectors alike with her unique style and attention to detail. Her watercolor portraits have been exhibited in galleries across the globe, including the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C.
Keane's work also highlights the importance of cultural understanding and appreciation. By featuring people from diverse backgrounds in her art, she sparked conversations about tolerance and acceptance, paving the way for future generations of artists to explore similar themes.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Margaret Keane is widely quoted and remembered for her ability to capture the essence of human relationships through her watercolor portraits. Her work continues to inspire artists today, serving as a reminder of the power of art to transcend cultural boundaries and foster understanding.
As an artist who defied conventions by creating portraits that featured people from diverse backgrounds, Margaret Keane left behind a legacy that will continue to be felt for generations to come.
Quotes by Margaret Keane
For many years I had allowed my second husband to take credit for my paintings. But one day, unable to continue the deception any longer, I left him and my home in California and moved to Hawaii.
In the beginning, I started doing portraits of children, and of course, children have large eyes. For some reason, they just started getting bigger and bigger. Then, when I started painting imaginary children rather than real ones, they became bigger still.
For many years, I had allowed my second husband to take credit for my paintings. But one day, unable to continue the deception any longer, I left him and my home in California and moved to Hawaii.
The old, sad art colors are gone. Now I paint bright colors. I paint paintings which are happy, where children are laughing and playing with animals. I paint paradise on Earth. I still paint sadness sometimes, but there is sadness in the world, too.
People either hate my paintings or they love them. There does not seem to be much middle ground.
