Anyone know what the paintings from the 60's with orphans (urchins) with big sad eyes were called?

Question

I'm trying to figure out what these paintings were called or who painted them. They always seemed to depict a very sad-looking street-urchin or (orphan?) type child, that was usually sitting with a pet cat. Both child and pet had huge, sad eyes. As a little kid in the 60's, these seemed to be in every department store my mother took me to. I've searched the internet and can't find any info. Anyone remember these, or what they were called?

Answer 1

Not sure if this may be the answer looking for... there is an artist JODY BERGSMA who's paintings depicted wide eyed children with whimsical animals .. she is in Bellingham, WA. and has a web site you can look her gallery up.. she has a variety of art works now. hope this helps you.

Answer 2

I know the pictures you are talking about. There were a few artists who did the "big eye" paintings of animals and waifs. Margaret Keane was one, but there was also Maio, Franca, Eden, Igor, Gig, Lee, Eve and many others. Here is a page that gives you a long list with example paintings of each artist's particular style. All of them were famous for the big eye style of paintings popular in the 60's.
http://bigeyedmasters.tripod.com/BIGEYEDMASTERS.html

Answer 3

I don't know the name of the individual paintings, but this sounds like some of the work of Georgia O'Keefe.