Santa Claus stands in profile at the right, looking down at a small golden star that glows in his white-gloved hands. He wears a deep crimson coat trimmed in thick white fur. At the left, a fir tree is hung with gold, green and pink baubles and a coral snowflake ornament, and clumps of snow rest on its branches.

The background is a haze of lavender, peach and pale yellow, with snowflakes drifting across it. Loose, visible brushwork and thick daubs of white paint give the scene the feel of a traditional oil study. The star is the warmest point in the picture and lights his beard and face.