Who painted the Santa Claus for Coca-Cola’s best-known 20th-century advertising campaigns?

Haddon Sundblom painted the Santa Claus for Coca-Cola’s best-known 20th-century advertising campaigns.

Coca-Cola hired Sundblom in 1931 to create a warmer, more human Santa for its Christmas advertising. His paintings showed Santa enjoying Coca-Cola while delivering presents, helping establish a widely recognized visual image of the character. The campaign continued for decades and appeared in magazines, posters, shop displays, and other advertising.

Sundblom did not invent Santa Claus, the red suit, or every feature of the modern character. Earlier illustrations, including work by Thomas Nast, had already influenced Santa’s appearance. Coca-Cola’s contribution was the enormous reach and consistency of Sundblom’s artwork, which helped make the cheerful, large, bearded figure familiar internationally.

A common mix-up is saying Coca-Cola created Santa’s red clothing. Red-and-white Santa images existed before the campaign; the company popularized one particularly influential version.