Nasts illustrations in Harpers Weekly were printed in black and white. Thomas Nast: Learn About the Man Behind Santa Claus, Christmas Eve Santa Claus Waiting for the Children to Get to Sleep by Thomas Nast, Emancipation of the Negroes The Past and the Future by Thomas Nast, Can the Law Reach Him? She runs her own website, A Scholarly Skater, is a regular contributor to DailyArt Magazine, and has written two online courses. The jovial version of St. Nick popular in the U.S. wasn . His use of Santa Claus was melancholy, sad for the faltering Union war effort in which Nast so fervently believed, and sad for the separation of soldiers and families. As Nast told his first biographer, Albert Bigelow Paine, he started drawing at an early age, to the exclusion of pretty much all else. That pagan figure appeared in numerous Victorian images. His portrayals of Santa Claus helped to create the enduring image of a jolly, white-bearded man in a red suit who brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve. This change is often mistakenly attributed to the work of Haddon Sundblom, who drew images of Santa in advertising for the Coca-Cola Company since 1931. Thomas Nast During Christmas in 1862 Nastfirst drew Santa Claus but the drawings firstappeared on the cover of the January 3, 1863, issue of Harpers Weekly,and shows Santa Claus visiting a Civil War Camp. He was a poor student, but evenfrom an early age, Nast showed an interest in drawing. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he's known for today. Where did he come from, why does he do it, and how does he accomplish this seemingly impossible task? She holds a bachelors degree in Communication from Hofstra University where she graduated with honors. In fact, when Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. His clearest early ancestor was St. Nicholas, a 4th-century CE bishop from Myra, in modern-day Turkey. What was the main purpose of Thomas Nasts political cartoon? During the Civil War, a Nast drawing from 1862 depicted Nicholas as a peddler wearing the colors of the American flag; published on the cover of Harper's Weekly, he became the hero of the Unionists (anti-slavery Yankees). Thomas Nast: self-caricature Nast arrived in New York as a boy of six. What is the history of the image of Santa Claus? His other Christmas illustrations showed children writing Santa letters, tracking his route, and even calling him on the telephone. Nast's Santa appeared as a kindly figure representing Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of Christ. His portrayals of Santa became increasingly popular and were widely reprinted in newspapers and magazines across the country. While his Civil War-era drawings are powerful, and his Santa Claus depictions forever etched on the American psyche in his rendition of Christmas's secular centerpiece, he is best known for attacking the political machine of William M. Tweed in New York City in the 1870s. Womanhouse: An Iconic Feminist Installation by Miriam Schapiro and Judy Chicago, 11 Most Expensive Fine Art Photography Auction Results In The Last 10 Years, The Great Schism: How the Christian Churches Split, Who Were The Druids Of Roman Britain? It shows a Santa in an egg-shaped profile, turning towards the viewer and carrying an armful of toys. The poem was an instant success and played a key role in introducing a portly and larger-than-life Santa Claus to the collective American imagination. Which aspect of Upton Sinclairs life best explains his reasons for writing The Jungle? Nast didn't invent fat Santa out of whole cloth, though, and may have modeled his depiction after the titular character of "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ("Twas the Night Before Christmas . Nast gives higher purpose to the horror of war in his multi-part depiction of the past lives of African Americans and the future Emancipation could bring them. In those decades, a familiar Santa Claus emerges round-bellied, ruddy-nosed, and pipe-smoking, with white hair, beard, and iconic suit. Remy Melina was a staff writer for Live Science from 2010 to 2012. The story of Santa Claus stems from a real man who started out as a monk and became the patron saint of children. Recognizing the failure of Reconstruction, Nast asks, "IsThisa Republican Form of Government? Nast first drew Santa Claus for the 1862 Christmas season Harpers Weekly cover and center-fold illustration to memorialize the family sacrifices of the Union during the early and, for the north, darkest days of the Civil War. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot; And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot. The same issue also contained another Nast illustration juxtaposing a soldier in the field with his wife and children at home. Who was the first person to draw Santa Claus? Unsurprisingly, the drawings from the Civil War often fell solidly in the realm of propaganda; Nast staunchly supported abolition, civil rights and the Republicans. This image helped to cement the idea of Santa as a jolly, kind-hearted figure who brings joy to children on Christmas. Stream live games and stay informed with breaking news . The current depiction of Santa Claus is based on images drawn by cartoonist Thomas Nast for Harper's Weekly beginning in 1863. Nast continued, however, to contribute to Harpers Weekly and other NYC-based publications until the 1880s. While the roots of the Santa story go back hundreds of years it is undeniable that the soft drink companys advertising campaigns around the Christmas holidays embedded their image of Santa firmly in the nations imagination. Nasts illustrations appeared as black-and-white wood engravings, so they make no reference to the color of Santas outfit. "This Is a White Man's Government.". The first mention of a well-fed old man riding on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. For younger children, you could draw the design for them and allow them to colour in the Santa drawing themselves. Nast would complete Nicholas-Santa Clauss transformation for Harpers Weekly magazine: Between 1862 and 1886, Nast created thirty-three Santa Claus drawings. His most famous achievement was the resurrection of three young boys killed and placed in a salting tub by a butcher. And in December 1884, merrily merging tradition and modern life, Nast depicted Santa speaking on the telephone, the brand new invention of the period! This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Thomas-Nast, Spartacus Educational - Biography of Thomas Nast, Thomas Nast - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Thomas Nast: "This Is a White Man's Government", Thomas Nast: Boss Tweed and the Tweed ring. Living in New York City, he dropped out of school in favor of studying drawing with fellow German-American Theodore Kaufmann and at the National Academy of Design. Like many Northerners, Nast supported President Lincoln, and he made his reputation by championing the Union's cause and the dignity of black people. Did Thomas Nast Draw Santa Claus In Harper's Christmas? You can, however, find many versions that have been hand-colored by their owners. Nast was the first person to draw Santa Claus as a fat, bearded elf. In this commentary on President Andrew Johnson's veto of the military government bill, Nast portrays the scales of justice favoring the South and the Confederate Army. Stay up to date with the latest content, educational resources, promotions and special news from our partners. During Christmas in 1862 Nast first drew Santa Claus but the drawings first appeared on the cover of the January 3, 1863, issue of Harpers Weekly, and shows Santa Claus visiting a Civil War Camp. Thomas Nast was a 19th-century German-born American cartoonist and caricaturist who is considered to be the Father of the American Cartoon. He is best known for his political cartoons, which appeared regularly in Harpers Weekly and were a major influence on public opinion during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. Part newspaper and part magazine, this popular new type of publication relied heavily on illustrations to clarify and enhance the written content. In the 19th century, British and American culture transformed Christmas into the wholesome holiday celebrated today. The poem describes the Christmas Eve antics of St. Nicholas, the beloved fourth-century patron saint of children. Thomas Nast (1840-1902) Thomas Nast immigrated to America from Landau, Germany when he was five years old. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Santa Claus exists as certainly as love, generosity and devotion. Be in trend easier than drink a glass of water. Thomas Nast was born September 27, 1840, in Landau Germany. Before long, countless American artists were inspired by the character. Saint Nicholas, or Sinterklaas by his Dutch name, is their ships figurehead, protecting them from the storm. The drawing became so popular that is still widely reproduced today. Thomas Nast (/nst/; German: [nast]; September 27, 1840 December 7, 1902) was a German-born American caricaturist and editorial cartoonist often considered to be the Father of the American Cartoon. Andrew Johnson as a repressive autocrat and characterized Southerners as vicious exploiters of helpless blacks, revealing his bitter disappointment in postwar politics. By 1885 Nasts disagreements with the editors of Harpers Weekly were becoming increasingly frequent; his last Harpers cartoon appeared in 1886. The final piece of the puzzle was with the help of Coca-Cola. Except for the pipe-smoking, the smiling, bearded, ruddy cheeked, red suit wearing, portly old gent sporting a bundle of toys is pretty much the same figure appearing in the iconic Coca Cola ads that appear in the 1930s, some 50 years later. He is credited with one particular miracle: liberating the city of Nancy, capital of the Duchy of Lorraine, from its Burgundian assailants. Although they sometimes contained coded political elements, they most often focused on childhood, sentimentality, and the importance of family. The plump Santa Claus whom children all over the world will be keeping an eye out for on Christmas Eve is actually a pretty modern creation. From the 19th century: Thomas Nast's vision of old Saint Nick. He is frequently credited with having originated the American political cartoon. Before the CocaCola Santa was even created, St Nick had appeared in numerous illustrations and written descriptions wearing a scarlet coat. Updates? Nasts pen was powerful, and his cartoons could sway elections. Thomas Nast attended school in New York City. The most famous among them was Thomas Nast (1840-1902), a caricaturist of German descent and godfather of the American cartoon. Santa Claus before Nast was a tall, thin man; it is Nast who made him the fat, jolly, bearded . He was dressed in a red suit with white fur and a black belt. The stylistic representation of Santa that is so widely recognized in the U.S. today with a fluffy white beard, giant belt buckle and bright red cheeks was further molded by none other than the Coca-Cola Co. After the war, Nast continued to draw often-scathing political commentary. Emancipation of Negroes, The Past and the Future. Why did European countries adopt the euro? Copyright 2023 Golden Peak Media. Learn how the familiar image of Santa Claus came to be, through the work of German-American illustrator Thomas Nast. (History & Facts). Even as Saint Nicholas was chased away from the Lutheran Protestant regions, he was welcomed in the Netherlands, despite its Calvinist majority. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). He published his initial illustration of Santa Claus in his first year with the magazine. In the past Santa Claus was presented in various ways but Nast conceived and introduced our modern image of Santa Claus. Sundbloms last ad for the company was painted in 1964. Please confirm you want to block this member. Who was the person who invented Santa Claus? For the next 30 years Nast continued to draw Santa changing the color of his coat from tan to the red hes known for today. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. In parallel, Louis Prang (1824-1907), the man who introduced Christmas cards to the United States in 1875, also took part in developing the clich by depicting Santa in a snowy and icy setting, wearing a big coat with a hood lined with white fur, boots and a cloth bag for toys. Much earlier, the American cartoonist Thomas Nast fashioned Santa Clauss image on the pages of the American magazine, The character of Santa Claus is believed to descend from Bishop Nicholas of Myra, who lived in the 4, The cult of Saint Nicholas did not escape Europes religious upheavals. The legend of Santa Claus can be traced back hundreds of years to a monk named St. Nicholas. In 1823, the second artist, a professor by the name of Doctor Clement Clarke Moore, presented his family with a poem about Santa to amuse his grandchildren and that Santa took over. The, When a group of Dutch Calvinists fleeing religious persecution in the 17, More than a century had passed when the writer Washington Irving published. The bag would become an integral part of our image of Santa, and it was first introduced in this 1863 Thomas Nast illustration. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Boss Tweed operated with impunityuntil he got under the skin of a 30-year-old political cartoonist named Thomas Nast. August 5, 1865 In the right corner of the drawing Santa Claus is shown riding a sleigh pulled by reindeer. 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why did thomas nast draw santa claus plump and smiling