The Evolution of Santa Claus: From Poetry to Modern Imagery

When did Thomas Nast draw on Moore's poem to create the first modern version of Santa Claus?

A) 1823 B) 1875 C) 1910 D) 1950

Final answer:

Answer:

Thomas Nast's drawings based on Moore's poem in 1863 gave rise to the first modern depiction of Santa Claus, featuring the North Pole Workshop, elves, and Mrs. Claus.

In 1863, Thomas Nast, a political cartoonist, drew upon Clement Clarke Moore's 1823 poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (commonly known as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas") to create the first modern version of Santa Claus. This depiction, which became widely popular, featured Santa with his now-famous North Pole Workshop, a team of elves, and the introduction of Mrs. Claus.

While the question's options do not list the correct year, the period closest to when Nast began to popularize his version of Santa Claus would be 1875 as this reflects the era during which Nast made significant contributions to the Santa Claus legend through his illustrations in Harper's Weekly. However, it's important to note that Nast's work on Santa continued for several years beyond 1875.