Illustration for a greeting card design, circa 1955. Mixed media on Bristol board. 395x315 mm; 15½x12⅜ inches. Signed with an Anglicized "John Hanau" in lower right image, likely because it was made for sale in the US. "Jean Haneau" is written in pencil on verso.
This fun, colorful image was likely created for a greeting card, and features a Victorian candlelit Christmas tree rendered in a modern style, similar to Ludwig Bemelmans. This is a rare example of his commercial illustration work.
The talented French-born artist Hanau had strong ties to New York City, where he lived and worked for 25 years, and taught at the Art Students League, created murals and other architectural ornament for various New York buildings, and was part of a group of prominent deaf New Yorkers called "The Merry-Go-Rounders."
