Comical Cherubs
Rose O'Neill introduced her signature characters, the Kewpies, in the Ladies Home Journal in 1909. In this lushly drawn Sunday page, they prepare for Halloween by convincing others that ghosts do exist. The lengthy, extremely detailed notes handwritten to her colorist, "Miss Hess," attest to O'Neill's devoted efforts to realize her artistic vision. In 1913, she patented her Kewpie doll, which, combined with spin-off products, made her famous and very wealthy. Unusually prolific and multitalented, O'Neill produced thousands of drawings for Puck magazine, novels, and advertisements.