satisfiedChristmas Greetings 1940, 1940
hand-colored photo-mechanical relief reproduction of an ink drawing
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington
Walt Kuhn was an American painter best known for his paintings of circus performers, and for his role in organizing the influential 1913 Armory Show, the first major exhibition of modern art in the United States. In the 1930s and 40s, Kuhn designed a series of American West-themed Chrismas cards, nine of which are part of the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. All nine are credited to both Walt Kuhn and his daughter, Brenda, though it's not clear what role she played in their creation. My guess: Walt drew the pictures, Brenda colored them. [ETA 11/30/2009: SAAM has since specified on their web site that Brenda was the colorist. My brain is so smart when it comes to guessing!] I chose this one because I liked the way it incorporated the traditional image of the Magi following the Star to Bethlehem into a Western context.
