Untitled (Santa with sleigh in snow) 1948

Robert Burian's small black and white photograph depicts Santa with a sleigh in the snow. The dreamlike quality of the image is heightened by its negative presentation. While seemingly straightforward, this image invites us to consider the stories we tell ourselves, especially around identity and tradition. Who is Santa Claus but a figure of constructed identity, one that is rooted in both religious and commercial narratives? As a symbol, Santa promises rewards to the well-behaved and reproduces a certain kind of childhood innocence, one often associated with middle-class values. The landscape, barren and wintry, amplifies the emotional complexities of the image. Is it a moment of joyful anticipation, or a recognition of the sometimes exclusionary nature of the stories we celebrate? This photograph prompts us to consider who is included, and who is left out, in the narratives we share.