Cream of Wheat advertisement 1928

Editor: This is a fascinating advertisement from 1928 by Haddon Hubbard Sundblom for Cream of Wheat. Painted in oil, it shows a kid bursting through a doorway, presumably excited about something happening outside in the snow. It feels very nostalgic and energetic all at once! What catches your eye about it? Curator: Ah, Sundblom! He of the Coca-Cola Santa Claus fame! Beyond the obvious… I see a slice of idealized Americana, a Norman Rockwellian daydream, perhaps, served up with a generous dollop of good old-fashioned marketing savvy. Doesn't it remind you of the kind of illustration you'd find in a mid-century magazine? Though, there's a looseness to his brushwork – an almost plein-air feel despite the indoor/outdoor subject matter. Is it genuine excitement or crafted enthusiasm, do you think? Editor: That's a good question! Maybe it's both. I wonder if the choice of oil paint contributes to that sense of "crafted enthusiasm," since it's traditionally associated with more "serious" art. It’s like he's elevating a mundane moment to something special. Curator: Exactly! He's lending the everyday a certain…gravitas. Think about the composition too. That bright doorway. The pop of red in the scarf and hat...he’s strategically drawing the eye. He’s making you *feel* the cold air, the joyful energy... all connected to the implied warmth and nourishment of a bowl of Cream of Wheat! Pretty sneaky, huh? What did you glean from studying this ad? Editor: I didn’t realize how much emotion could be packed into something as simple as a breakfast ad. I suppose the power of nostalgia and artful composition are pretty persuasive! Curator: Indeed! And next time I see Santa Claus, I will remember this painter and his advertising genius. Food for thought, isn't it?