A jolly Santa with a full white beard leans in beside a little girl in a red Santa hat, both laughing as she rides a pearly white carousel unicorn with a spiraled horn. A brass pole divides the two figures.

Behind them, a vintage merry-go-round glows with rows of amber bulbs that dissolve into soft bokeh, rim-lighting the beard, the fur trim and the child's hair.

Loosely painted in oil with soft, visible brushstrokes and a muted palette of brick red, creamy ivory and warm gold, the scene feels nostalgic, joyful and storybook-gentle.