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Christmas Eve – Santa Waiting for the Children to Get to Sleep

Nast, Thomas

1874, January 3

Artwork Information

  • Title:

    Christmas Eve – Santa Waiting for the Children to Get to Sleep

  • Artist:

    Nast, Thomas

  • Artist Bio:

    American, 1840-1902

  • Date:

    1874, January 3

  • Medium:

    Wood engraving

  • Dimensions:

  • Credit Line:

    Wichita Art Museum, Museum purchase with funds donated by the Derby Refining Company, a Unit of Coastal States Gas Corporation

  • Object Number:

    1978.121.422

  • Display:

    Not Currently on Display

About the Artwork

Thomas Nast’s fame, even today, rests largely on his holiday drawings and especially those carrying the Christmas theme. In a very real sense, he invented the image of Santa Claus as we know it today. This work, titled Santa Waiting for The Children To Get To Sleep was obviously inspired by Clement Moore’s poem “The Night before Christmas” and is one of Nast’s best known Christmas pictures. It appeared in the January 3, 1874 issue of Harper’s Weekly.