He is known best for illustrating the first edition of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and for his caricatures[1][2] of African Americans.

When Life magazine was founded in 1883, Kemble became a frequent contributor to its early issues.

His cartoons attracted the attention of Mark Twain, who employed Kemble to illustrate Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Kemble subsequently illustrated several other famous books, including Twain's Puddin' Head Wilson, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, Washington Irving's Knickerbocker History of New York, and many of Joel Chandler Harris' Uncle Remus stories.

Kemble made a specialty of illustrating Black characters, and his work ranged from overtly racist caricatures to more human sociological studies depending upon his audience.