Santa Claus's Rebuke

New York: Harper & Brothers, 1871. unbound. Print. Woodcut engraving. Image measures 15 3/4" x 10 3/4"

This Christmas print was drawn by Thomas Nast for the cover of Harper's Bazar in 1871. The illustration shows Santa Claus and a young boy. Santa holds a letter from the boy's parents behind his back, informing him not to bring any gifts because the boy has been naughty. The illustration is surrounded by a decorative holly border. In very good condition.

Thomas Nast was a political cartoonist and illustrator; credited with devising elephant and donkey symbols of Republican and Democratic parties, and with creating American image (truncated) of Santa Claus. He largely featured Catholicism and the papacy in Rome, Irish-Americans, and corrupt Democratic politicians (namely Boss Tweed and the Tammany Hall institution). (Inventory #: 327528)