Walt Kuhn, born Brooklyn, NY 1877-died - Christmas Greetings 1940 - 1940 - T-Shirt

A night-time holiday scene in ink and watercolour, with three bearded travellers gathered around a campfire beneath a single bright star.

Visual Elements & Composition

The design is built on a rectangular card format, with a dark vignette holding most of the image. Black dominates the sky and surrounding field, while off-white fills the lighter areas and gives the figures their edge. Small touches of ochre, royal blue and pale yellow warm the campfire, the travellers' clothing and the star. A shaggy dog and a resting figure beside a sack sit close to the fire, anchoring the lower part of the scene. The handwritten-style text reads "Greetings!", "Walt, Vera and Brenda" and "1940", placing the signature and date within the image itself.

Meaning & Symbolism

The three travellers and the star draw on the traditional nativity narrative, where the journey through darkness leads toward a moment of peace and goodwill. The campfire stands for warmth and gathering, and the night setting gives the star its guiding role. Walt Kuhn, the American modernist known for his circus performers, showgirls and still lifes, created this greeting in December 1940 for friends, family and art world associates. Sent as the world moved deeper into World War II, the card reflects a personal wish to keep community and warmth alive during a period of global upheaval. Kuhn also helped organise the landmark 1913 Armory Show, and his personal correspondence offers a glimpse of his work beyond the oil canvas.

Built for the Wearer's Chest

A greeting like this is meant to be read up close, and a tee brings that scale to the wearer. The campfire and star sit at the centre of the composition, so the eye lands on them first, much as the card would be held in the hand. The dark field and fine linework give the print a quiet presence that reads clearly across the chest.