Santa is shown from the chest up in three-quarter profile, gazing off to the right in a red coat and fur-trimmed hat with a full white beard. Over his shoulder hangs a heavy canvas sack of wrapped gifts and pine boughs with holly berries, filling the left third of the frame.

Rendered impressionistically rather than photographically, the figure sits against softly abstracted, snow-dusted pines. Heavy palette-knife ridges build the beard and fur trim, edges stay loose and unblended, and soft winter light keeps the ivory, brick red and sage palette warm and nostalgic.