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A Very Vintage Holiday, New York, NY (2026)

04/09/2025

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12/22/2024

Norman Rockwell "Is He Coming?", 1919

In this painting we see a boy standing by the fireplace, holding a candle in his hand. The boy looks inside with such interest that he is ready to literally climb in, despite the fire. Let's try to figure out what interested this child so much.

The painting was painted by the famous American illustrator Norman Rockwell, who often turned to Christmas themes in his work. His work entitled "Is He Coming?", created in 1919, was no exception.

At first glance at the painting, it becomes clear that the spirit of Christmas is in the air. The fireplace is decorated with branches of evergreen - ivy, mistletoe and holly. Stockings for gifts that Santa Claus should throw in hang above the fireplace.

According to legend, Santa, having descended into one of the houses, accidentally dropped several gold coins into a sock, which was hung to dry over the fireplace. Since then, on Christmas Eve, people have hung socks and stockings on the fireplace in the hope that something will fall in there — children believe that Santa Claus will fill it with gifts.

It is Santa Claus, who, according to legend, must come down the chimney, that the hero of the painting is waiting for. The boy knows that the Christmas wizard comes at night, so he prudently did not go to bed, but began to watch by the fireplace.

The spotted dog, who is always ready to support his owner, is waiting no less attentively for Santa. The tailed friend peers into the chimney as if he has already sensed the stranger and is ready to greet him “friendly”.

The painting “Is He Coming?” turned out to be very magical, positive and lively. Rockwell loved to embody children, their desires, hopes and dreams on canvas. The artist believed that the main opportunity to preserve and increase the best that exists in reality is to raise good adults from children.

"There is no place for dirt and ugliness in my paintings. I paint life as I would like to see it," the illustrator wrote in his memoirs.
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