Victorian Santa Claus Christmas Greeting Card Chromolithograph

His deeply focused, almost grimly determined expression suggests a man who has seen some things — specifically, a lot of snow, a lot of trees, and a small glowing cottage in the distant background that he may or may not be approaching with good intentions. Forget the red suit — this Pre-Capitalist Santa has fully committed to his earth-tone era, trudging through a snowy forest in an olive-brown coat and matching cap like a Civil War reenactor who got extremely lost on his way to a battle. He's hunched under the weight of a full Christmas tree strapped to his back alongside a bulging sack of gifts, steadying himself with a walking stick as if the holidays are a grueling wilderness expedition rather than a magical event. His long white beard completes the picture of endurance and hardship. The gold-framed vignette format gives the whole scene the energy of a wanted poster for a gift-delivering vagrant.