In New York City in December, darkness starts arriving early, with sunsets creeping closer to 4 P.M. But the long winter nights have their own sources of brightness, with twinkle lights and holiday ritual popping up all over town. For some of us, this is a beautiful time to enjoy the city. Suddenly, sidewalk corners fill up with fresh, almost minty-smelling trees, and throngs of people gather together—in sidewalks and stores as well as homes and places of worship—joining in the shared reality of seasonal tradition. In his first New Yorker cover, for the December 12, 2022 issue, Matthieu Forichon illustrated a scene in which some of those festive moments overlap.
What’s your favorite part of the holidays?
I remember going to buy a tree with my dad, and now I do the same with my children. When so many other things are being questioned, these shared moments of joy are increasingly precious. Amid the grand decorum of Christmas, the small moments of intimate time are what forge the most beautiful memories.
You live in Lyon, France. Are there local holiday traditions that you look forward to?
Lyon is a great place to be in December. It has a Fête des Lumières, a uniquely local tradition that has everyone placing lights in their windows and many kinds of sons et lumières (sounds and lights) shows for four days—it ends on December 8th. What I really look forward to during that time of year is to see the lights in the windows, buy and decorate the trees, but mainly spend a lot of time at home with family and friends.
In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re in the darkest part of the year. Do you find that your color palettes or drawings change with the seasons?
Christmas for me is associated with winter, a time of year that warms our eyes and our hearts. So yes, I use more blues and oranges. The shadows that were purple in the fall now veer toward blue. I think my palette does shift slowly with the seasons. I find that fall and winter are my favorite time of year, the seasons that are important for my work.
You work as an illustrator—what are the specific skills needed to succeed in that field?
You have to look around you, to observe. I think that’s the most important thing to do. Pay attention to the small details of daily life – that’s where I find my inspiration. I didn’t go to art school, but I have always gone to cafés, watched people, and sketched them. Then they come back later as characters in my drawings. And also, you have to be patient. Drawing is a solitary activity, and that can be painful. You have to struggle through all the times you doubt yourself, but with patience and hard work, hopefully you can pull through.
See below for other covers featuring Christmas trees:
“December 18, 1937,” by William Cotton
“December 14, 1963,” by Arthur Getz
“Priority Shipping,” by Peter de Sève
Find Matthieu Forichon’s covers, cartoons, and more at the Condé Nast Store.
Sourse: newyorker.com
