This legendary 1881 vintage artwork by United States Civil War Cartoonist Thomas Nast is famous today for cementing Santa's image. This painting, called Merry Old Santa Claus, looks to the casual observer like our normally conceived and beloved overweight Santa with toys for the children. What many don't know was that this piece of retro art was propaganda that pertained to the government's indecisiveness over paying higher wages to members of the military.