Artists You Should Know: Thomas Nast

Here's a timely suggestion: Among his many contributions to American culture, Thomas Nast gave us our first glimpse of Clement Moore's "jolly old elf" himself, St. Nicholas. (Reading this poem is a Christmas Eve tradition in our house, as it was in my childhood home.) Santa - as is the case with many men - has held up extremely well for 140-some years, if you ask me, though there's no mention of botox injections. All sentimentality aside, I've always rather admired Nast for lampooning cheaters, championing the underdog and standing by his convictions. Things have evolved from his day to ours, but he certainly gifted us with the political cartoon as an art form.

A thousand thanks to Anne Hebert for the suggestion. This is the second time she's popped in with a helpful hint and I am most grateful!

Today (December 12) in Art History:

• Edvard Munch (Norwegian painter), born in 1863.
• Helen Frankenthaler (American painter), born in 1928.