The Visual Construction of an Educated Woman in Illustrations of Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long Legs

Author

• Paeton C. Horsch, CUNY City CollegeFollow

Date of Award

2026

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Art History

First Advisor

Ellen Handy

Second Advisor

Abby Kornfeld

Third Advisor

Craig Houser

Keywords

illustration, book illustration, Daddy-Long-Legs, Jean Webster, John R. Neill, Edward Ardizzone

Abstract

Jean Webster’s 1912 epistolary novel Daddy-Long-Legs features pen drawings by the author. This thesis examines those pen drawings as a tool for character development and political awareness, and how artists tasked with creating other illustrations for the story misrepresent the progressive nature of Webster’s work by emphasizing her protagonist’s romantic interests.

Recommended Citation

Horsch, Paeton C., "The Visual Construction of an Educated Woman in Illustrations of Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long Legs" (2026). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cc_etds_theses/1310