An Artistic Ode to a Christmas Tree
The Art Story Holiday Special
Before we dive into Christmas celebrations with loved ones, let’s give an artistic nod to the hero of the holiday season – the Christmas Tree. Artists have transformed this evergreen in ways that defy tradition, from abstract installations to upside-down wonders. Whether draped in gold or glowing in neon, the tree has become a canvas for artists, for whom the tree is more than just a place to put presents. Let’s take a look at some favorites!
Viggo Johansen, a Danish painter from the Skagen artists' colony, was all about light – literally. His 1891 painting Glade jul ("Merry Christmas") radiates warm candlelight and the kind of family gathering that brings Danish hygge to life. Johansen specialized in capturing intimate domestic scenes, often using his own family as models.
Johansen’s work reflects the influence of Impressionism, though he remained grounded in a distinctly Scandinavian atmosphere. His ability to portray light and shadow with such sensitivity made him one of Denmark’s leading painters of the time.
Alice Bailly, a Swiss avant-garde painter in a male-dominated art scene, influenced Fauvism and Cubism with her bold, electric canvases. In Joy Around the Tree, Bailly ditches holiday realism for vibrant colors and swirling forms – like Christmas lights dancing after one too many glasses of mulled wine. Her work adds a fresh, modern twist to festive cheer, proving that not all Christmas scenes need to stay inside the lines.
Later in her career, she pioneered a technique known as "wool paintings," using strands of yarn to create textured, tactile compositions that blurred the line between painting and textile art. This innovative approach retained the boldness and energy of her earlier works. Bailly developed this technique during World War I, marking a period of experimentation and creative reinvention as she continued to push artistic boundaries.
Christmas trees aren’t always about snow and sleigh bells. Sometimes they’re about swimsuits and sunshine. Photographer Slim Aarons captured the high life, and nothing says Aarons like Christmas Swim. Taken in 1954, this photo showcases sun-soaked Californians celebrating poolside, martinis in hand. Aarons was known for photographing the glamorous elite, his work embodying leisure, luxury, and perfectly tanned holiday vibes.
A former war photographer, Aarons famously claimed he wanted to document "attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places," a mantra that guided much of his career. His work offers a sunlit glimpse into post-war affluence, often blurring the line between journalism and staged opulence.
One of the quirkiest tree installations to make waves is the upside-down Christmas tree. Originally rooted in medieval Central Europe, where hanging trees symbolized the Holy Trinity and doubled as chandeliers with glowing lights, the tradition made a modern return in 2016. That year, contemporary artist Shirazeh Houshiary installed an upside-down Christmas tree at Tate Britain in London. Known for her sculptures and installations exploring spiritual and philosophical themes, Houshiary quite literally went back to the roots, emphasizing them as “the source of continued stability, nourishment, and longevity.”
Whether following tradition or turning it on its head, may this holiday season inspire fresh perspectives and new forms of celebration. Happy holidays!
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