The bookman Christmas number c. 1890 - 1920

This Art Nouveau-style illustration by Louis Rhead was a cover for a special Christmas edition of the literary journal *The Bookman*. It features a bookish gentleman in a bookstore, a scene full of books and a festive flourish, creating an inviting image for readers of the magazine. Rhead was a prolific illustrator known for his whimsical and charming depictions of literary and historical scenes, often showcasing a keen eye for detail and a distinctive color palette. The cover was created around the turn of the century, during a period of flourishing book publishing and the rise of popular literary culture in the United States.