A Very American Santa Claus
Taking focus on a long tradition of portrayals of the modern day Father Christmas
Contrary to popular belief, Fred Mizen’s classic Red Santa Claus featured in Coca-Cola’s advertising from the 1930s, continues a long tradition of portrayals of the modern day Father Christmas.
Words by Emily Kern, Remastered Photographs by Jordan J. Lloyd and Tetyana Dyachenko.
Evolving from the 4th century Greek bishop Saint Nicolas in medieval Western Europe, the figure of Father Christmas as a large man was pictured in earthy green and scarlet robes as early as Henry VIII’s England in the 16th century. Luther’s German Reformation saw the re-casting of Saint Nicolas as Weihnachtsmann, the secular gift giver, whose popularity soared in the Victorian era and spread to the United States where the German born cartoonist Thomas Nast replaced Father Christmas’ hood with a hat, and changing the tan coat to a shorter, redder coat.
In fact, by the 1850s, Father Christmas’ green coat was very much on the decline, replaced by the far more favourable depictions of Santa Claus in a red coat as seen on popular periodicals of the 1890s. Unseen Histories presents a selection of Public Domain photographs of the popular image of Santa Claus in the 20th Century.
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[L] Santa Claus. Man portraying Santa Claus, half-length, facing front, in snowy scene. Photograph by unknown Photographer. 1895, United States (⇲ Library of Congress). [] Santa Claus. Remaster and Colorization by Jordan J. Lloyd.
In this photograph of which very little is known, the lack of colour technology of the time meant that the actual studio depiction of Santa Claus may have had him in any number of colours, most likely a fur lined tan coat going by the black and white information on a grey background. The shot is characteristically over exposed like many of its era to emphasise the caucasian skin tones, and the ‘snow’ of white paint most likely flicked on using a brush.
Given the limitations of color photography at the time, hand tinted color versions would most likely have reflected the commercial demands of the general public if made into postcards or other forms of merchandising, such as the now classic red Santa outfit and an alternative green version, though this would’ve been unlikely ■
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[L] [Grace Coolidge, Santa Claus, and children next to Christmas tree]. Photograph by Harris & Ewing. December 1927, United States (⇲ Library of Congress). [R] [Caught in the act]. Man dressed as Santa Claus seated on model of chimney smoking long pipe and blowing circles of smoke. Photograph by Unknown Photographer. c.1900, United States (⇲ Library of Congress)
[L] Santa cleans touches up the centurion statues in Union Station, Washington, D.C. Photograph by Carol M. Highsmith. c.1980s, Washington D.C., United States (⇲ Library of Congress). [R] [Santa Claus with children and toys: Santa in his workshop talking on telephone and surrounded by toys]. Photograph by Underwood & Underwood. c.1906, United States (⇲ Library of Congress)
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[L] R. H. Macy and Company department store during the week before Christmas. Children line up to talk with Santa Claus. They are two Santas, concealed from one another by a labyrinth to prevent disillusionment of the children. Each child is presented with candy and tells Santa his or her desires. Photograph by Marjory Collins. December 1942, New York, United States (⇲ Library of Congress). [R] A US Navy sailor dressed up as Santa Claus climbs the smokestack of the repair ship USS HECTOR. Photograph by JO3 George Hammond. December 1986. San Diego, California, United States (⇲ US National Archives)
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Curated by the Unseen Histories team, Viewfinder points the lens at photographs, maps, and ephemera uncovered from the worlds' archives.
