The Kewpie® character brand was initially conceived as a comic strip by artist and writer Rose O’Neill. The illustrated cartoons, appearing as baby cupid characters, began to gain popularity after the publication of O’Neill’s comic strips in 1909. Rose began to illustrate and sell paper doll versions of the Kewpies. The characters were first produced as bisque dolls beginning in 1912 and became enormously popular. Rose O’Neill used her artistic abilities to advance women’s rights, champion the downtrodden, and lift children out of poverty. O’Neill created the Kewpie character as a “good-will ambassador spreading love, laughter, and philanthropy.