Citizen Keane: The Big Lies Behind the Big Eyes

by Adam Parfrey, Cletus Nelson

Teary, big-eyed orphans and a multitude of trashy knockoffs epitomized American kitsch art as they clogged thrift stores for decades. When Adam Parfrey tracked down Walter Keane—the credited artist of the weepy waifs, for a San Diego Reader cover story in 1992—he discovered some shocking facts. Decades of lawsuits and countersuits revealed the reality that Keane was more of a con man than an artist, and that he forced his wife Margaret to sign his name to her own paintings. As a result, those weepy waifs may not have been as capricious an invention as they seemed. Parfrey's story was reprinted in Juxtapoz magazine and inspired a Margaret Keane exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum. And now director Tim Burton is filming a movie about the Keanes called Big Eyes , and it's scheduled for release in 2014. Burton's Ed Wood , starring Johnny Depp, was based upon the Feral House book edited and published by Parfrey about the angora sweater-wearing B-film director. Citizen Keane is a book-length expansion of Parfrey's original article, providing fascinating biographical and sociological details, photographs, color reproductions, and appendices with legal documents and pseudonymous essays by Tom Wolfe inflating big eye art to those painted by the great masters.

Genres: Biography, Art, Nonfiction, True Crime, Crime, Art History, History

200 pages, Paperback

First published April 21, 2014

About the author

Adam Parfrey was an American journalist, editor, and the publisher of Feral House books, whose work in all three capacities frequently centered on unusual, extreme, or "forbidden" areas of knowledge. A 2010 Seattle Weekly profile stated that "what Parfrey does is publish books that explore the marginal aspects of culture. And in many cases—at least back when his interests were almost exclusively transgressive—he sheds light on subjects that society prefers to leave unexplored, carving a niche catering to those of us with an unseemly obsession with life's darkest, most depraved sides."

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect storm of greed, envy and fame; Walter Keane wanted so badly to be famous that it did not matter what he had to do...even if it meant taking credit for the paintings of his wife Margaret. A causionary tale of the extreme price of fame - Bronson Pinchot does a fantastic job.

[Jaina Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, at last the whole strange story of this is told in excruciating detail. The authors dug deep into public records, courtroom transcriptions, old newspapers and the memories of anyone involved who would talk to them. Sparing no lash against the misdeeds of Walter, the authors do show some respect toward Margaret, though the final judgment of whether or not the paintings themselves were worth all the trouble may never be settled. Personally, I am a great appreciator of the paintings (even the post-religious-conversion ones), and I relish the turning of the tables as Walter's fall from megalomaniacal, booze-sodden glory is counterbalanced by Margaret's increasing victory as a happy, fully-realized person. The book includes a few juicy bonus pieces, including the Jim Morton article that first led me down the path of Big Eyes.

[Dorothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love art history. I was never a fan of the big sad eyes paintings. As a kid, they scared me. I enjoyed learning about Margaret and her passion behind those hundreds of sad eyes. Throw in the story of Walter's ego, delusions and deception; all this during the Summer of Love period of the 60's; I did not want this book to end. Can't wait for the movie!

[Alvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick romp through the high camp melodrama of the Keanes. The tiny smattering of cultural analysis about kitsch – it's place in American culture and political implications – could've gone into more depth for my taste. Still, the book is a fun read with some great color prints.

[Suzette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting read but is sparse on details and spends a lot of time quoting from Walter's memoirs and not enough time on the court cases or on background material. It's as advertised - an expansion of a newspaper article, rather than an exhaustively researched recounting of Walter's huge fraud. I'm glad the authors looked into Walter's horrible treatment of Margaret and the fraud he perpetrated and then reported on both but I wish that someone would now delve deeper into the story and provide more facts and insight.

[Brenda Wegner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read if you are into Big Eye Art. I knew most of this stuff already, but I liked how this explained Walter's marketing genius. The excerpts from his autobiography were also crazy interesting. This book gave me plenty to dislike about Walter. I wish it would have given me more to love about Margaret. I guess the whole point is you don't have to love the people behind the art to enjoy the art.

[Annette Abbott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating true story of kitsch artists, Walter and Margaret Keane - or should I say artist and con-artist. What an a.hole Walter was! Having his wife create art and taking the credit for her work. Note: Read it now before Tim Burton's movie, "Big Eyes" hits theatres later this year.

[Auntie Raye-Raye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Walter Keane was a complete asshole.

[Liz · Rating 1 out of 5]

It is hard to imagine a story this interesting could be told in a less coherent and compelling way. Chatty, self-referential, and disjointed, this book assumes that you already know at least the basic facts of the "famous" Keane story. I did not have that advantage, and would have preferred a more orderly, straightforward retelling. In frustratingly brief glimpses, I could see some real potential to this material: the abusive home environment, the sudden meteoric rise to fame, the popular success and critical derision, the elaborate lies and secrets, Walter's obvious mental illness and alcoholism, Margaret's fascination with the occult, and finally the climactic courtroom battle (frequently referenced but only briefly explored here). I understand Tim Burton is releasing a movie starring Amy Adams as Margaret Keane; I hope he will prove a better storyteller.

The primary benefit of this book is that it runs about 120 pages and contains a percentage of images nearly comparable to a coffee table book. I found that I enjoyed looking at the contested paintings more than I did reading the text.

[William Eck · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and compelling read. Features excerpts from interviews with both Margaret and Walter Keane, writings by Margaret, excerpts from contemporaneous art reviews and newspaper articles, as well as excerpts from Walter Keane's delusional autobiography. A very in-depth story that can be read quickly. It gives you a good sense of the art world and bohemian culture in San Francisco of the 1950s and 60s.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book reads really strangely, sparse on detail when it seems like it could and should have been filled out more, repeating, missing obvious errors, and constantly changing in tone. Some of that is probably due to there being two authors, but also it feels like there is a lot of relying on previous writing and quoting. It feels like it was dashed off to capitalize on the movie, but the movie was still in production when it came out.

Somewhat interesting, but not very satisfying.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully entertaining account of the drama of the Keanes. Parfrey does an admirable job sifting through the lies and obfuscations of Walter Keane to get as close to the truth of the matter as possible.

[Joe Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can no longer see those Big Eyed children in thrift shops without thinking, "Walter Keane was a bastard."

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting follow-up read to the movie "Big Eyes."

[Margot Note]

Read in bed in one sitting while sick between naps. I love everything Adam Parfrey/Feral House.

[Lisa K · Rating 4 out of 5]

really 3.5 stars, really trashy but not long enough

[dejah_thoris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Growing up we had a framed puzzle of a green-eyed, grey kitten weeping a giant tear you'd see right when you came in the door or from the time-out bench next to it. I never paid attention to the artist, but now I know it could have been one of Gig's Pitty Kitty pieces. Unfortunately, the woman whose style defined 1960s kitsch painting, Margaret Keane, was practically enslaved by her husband, Walter, who promoted their work. Walter also took credit for the large-eyed waifs whose pop art popularity supported their more serious works, like celebrity portraits. Yes, he had a lovely story about being moved by a young unhoused person whose eyes continued to haunt him years later, but he never actually painted. He'd daub for photoshoots, and claimed that they worked on each other's canvasses though, somehow, he only ever credited Margaret with depictions of adults, never the beloved waifs. Well, Margaret eventually had the last laugh because she challenges him to a paint-off, and he never appears, citing his debilitating shoulder injury. Now, how many other famous creators stole from their wives' talent?

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting back story about Walter Keane taking credit for paintings actually created by his wife Margaret. Not the basis for the movie Big Eyes since the book and movie were being created almost simultaneously, but provides a more in-depth look and the actual timeline of events unlike the compressed version of the movie.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book. It presents the facts in a really dry, uninteresting manner and relies a lot on hearsay and assumptions. I guess that's kind of necessary in a way, but if you're interested in this story at all, I would highly recommend watching the movie Big Eyes and skipping the book. It's much more entertaining, and more or less sticks to the facts.

[Terry Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Been waiting to read this slim title for years, and happily it did not disappoint. I found the story of the Keane couple a fascinating one, filled with jealousy and kitsch. Combine with the fine bio film BIG EYES and you have a weekend of thought provoking entertainment!

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I don't like how this book was written, it's a fascinating story and I'm looking forward to seeing the movie when it opens in December.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting aside in art history

I wish Margaret Keane had contributed more of her story. It got old reading only the hyperbolic fantasy of Walter Keane.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the subject matter but the book was kind of boring.

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story to those who grew up when Keane work was ubiquitous. Reads more like a newspaper story than a biography.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was unaware of this artist and the story behind Big Eyes until I ran across the movie. The story is interesting.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three words: tragedy with justice

[Boo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it after I saw that film and found it very interesting.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always loved Keane’s paintings and visited the gallery when we went to SF. I never saw Tim Burton’s movie so I was curious about the book.

[D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The story behind the big eye paintings is so interesting, but somehow, this book made it boring. I’m really disappointed because I wanted to read this to my art students, but there’s no way I would torture them with this.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

This should have just stayed an article. It just repeated the same information in different ways if felt like someone fleshing out word count for a book report.