Christmas Cards

In 1941, Eric Thake made a linocut to be sent to friends as a Christmas card. It was so warmly received that the Christmas linocut became a tradition which continued until 1975, when Thake's failing eyesight made linocutting impossible. The Christmas cards were not religious in nature, with the possible exception of The Adoration of the Magi (1949). However, even this card shows a family of owls rather than the traditional biblical figures.

The cards were always a vehicle for Thake's sense of humour, although many of them depend on personal references which he did not make explicit, and which are now unfortunately lost to us.

Christmas Cards 1948-64
Christmas Cards 1965-77