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Man Playing Santa by Norman Rockwell

Norman Rockwell's Man Playing Santa 1918    

Norman Rockwell Signature


December 9, 1916 Issue of The Saturday Evening Post


This Norman Rockwell painting from the cover of The Saturday Evening Post from December 9, 1916 is entitled Man Playing Santa.

This was Rockwell's sixth Post cover. It was also his first Post cover with a Christmas theme, specifically Santa Claus.

The location of the original oil on canvas painting is not known.

This painting also appears in three Rockwell commentary books. It appears as illustration 327 of Norman Rockwell's America by Christopher Finch, as illustration 92 of Norman Rockwell: Artist and Illustrator by Thomas Buechner and on page 75 of Norman Rockwell, A Definitive Catalogue by Laurie Norton Moffatt.

Surely, this painting reminded the children to be on their best behavior for at least three more weeks. Being nice instead of naughty for three weeks was possible for most children. Christmas was almost there!

Man Playing Santa

Man Playing Santa represents a more complete painting than a lot of other early Norman Rockwell Post covers. Instead of painting characters silhouetted on a white background, Rockwell was able to feature a partial background in this illustration.

Hence, we are treated to delightful pictures of toys on the shelves in the background and the foreground.

Rockwell painted a veritable cornucopia of toys in the painting.

Available as a Stretched Canvas Print in 3 Sizes:

Framing is available.



Saturday Evening Post Man Playing Santa 1916

8 x 10 Strecthed Canvas Print
    Norman Rockwell Grandpa Buying Christmas Gifts 1916

13 x 16 Stretched Canvas Print
    Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post Man Playing Santa 1916

18 x 22 Stretched Canvas Print

Toys, Toys, Toys!

Look closely for these toys:

  • Rabbit
  • Masks
  • Buckets
  • Baseball
  • Dolls
  • Car
  • Duck
  • Miniature doll basket
  • Monkey
  • Snowman
  • Chick
  • Miniature Santa
  • Pole Climber

The characters in this illustration are the older man and the shopkeeper. The story Rockwell is telling with this painting is children at Christmas.

The older gentleman dresses up as Santa Claus for his grandchildren or other children he may be fond of. The toys, though adults love to play with toys (c'mon, admit it,) are all children's toys.

This painting is actually the first of two parts. The second part appeared on the cover of the December 1916 American Boy entitled Merry Christmas, Grandpa. You can seen which toy Grandpa bought. Hint: it's not on the list, because I'm not sure what to call it.

This painting reminds us who the secular Christmas celebration actually is for: the children.

May you and your children have a Merry Christmas!
Saturday Evening Post 1916

12 x 14 Giclee Print
Norman Rockwell Christmas 1916

17 x 20 Giclee Print
Saturday Evening Post Man playing Santa December 9, 1916

22 x 26 Giclee Print



Norman Rockwell painting on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post from December 9, 1916 entitled Man Playing Santa

Norman Rockwell's Man Playing Santa (1916)

Copyright © 1916 Saturday Evening Post & Curtis Publishing Company

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  People in a Theatre Balcony from the October 14, 1916 Saturday Evening Post coverPrevious Cover
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Two Men Courting Girl's Favor
 

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Norman Rockwell's painting, A Drum for Tommy or Santa with Drum, appeared on the cover of The Country Gentleman on 12/17/1921
Norman Rockwell Santa Claus
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