Santa bends his head over an open book, his eyes lowered and his cheeks flushed pink. His white beard is built up in thick, curling strokes of cream and pale yellow, and a russet hat and coat melt into the shadowy background.

At the right, a small fir tree glows with yellow lights, with a bright star-like point at the top. The golden light spills onto the book and beard, which makes the dark scene feel intimate and calm.