Santa with Girl, New York City

1947

Ruth Orkin

Associated Names
Ruth Orkin

Artist, American, 1921 - 1985

The image shows a man dressed as Santa Claus interacting with a young person. The Santa Claus figure is slightly bent forward, engaging with the child, who is facing him with a smile, standing upright with one hand in their coat pocket. The Santa costume includes a faux beard and mustache, and a hat, with his hands gloved, while his hair is not visible due to the hat and wig. The young person has short hair visible from under a hooded coat, paired with a scarf. A sign labeled "Volunteers of America" is visible on a post shaped like a small chimney. The background is blurred with other people passing by, and the scene appears to take place indoors with doors and windows partially visible.

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Artwork overview

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

The Estate of Ruth Orkin, New York; by inheritance to Mary Engel, New York; gift to NGA, 2021.

Associated Names

Inscriptions

on verso, signed by artist, center in graphite perpendicular: © Ruth Orkin 19; by artist, center right in graphite perpendicular: Black girl & Santa Claus outside Macy's / ca. 1949"; by unknown hand, upper left in red ink: TBR; center right artist stamp in red ink perpendicular; center right stamped in red ink perpendicular: © RUTH ORKIN; center right artist stamp in black ink with address crossed out in black ink perpendicular; by unknown hand, bottom left in black ink underlined on applied sticker: 80; bottom right in black ink on applied sticker: #4 [circled] 4 [in red ink] #4 [circled and crossed out] / 70

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