Doctor Saint Nick- Ridendo Magazine

This delightful Christmas cover from Ridendo magazine showcases the wit and charm of French medical humor publishing in the mid-1930s. The illustration by Jacques Touchet presents a pink-suited Père Noël (Father Christmas) kneeling at a fireplace, where instead of traditional stockings, he discovers a caduceus, the serpent-entwined staff symbolizing medicine. A sleeping baby rests in a canopied bassinet while the mantel clock strikes midnight. Ridendo, whose name derives from the Latin phrase 'castigat ridendo mores' (laughter corrects morals), was a specialized humor magazine created exclusively for French physicians. Published throughout the 1930s, it offered doctors a respite from their demanding profession through cartoons, jokes, and illustrations that played on medical themes. This Christmas issue exemplifies the publication's approach of blending seasonal celebration with professional identity. The limited color palette of magenta, blue, and black demonstrates the economical yet effective printing techniques of period magazine illustration. A standout piece for collectors of medical ephemera, French illustration, or vintage Christmas imagery. Size: 10.5" x 8.0" Artist: Jacques Touchet Condition: Very Good, An original vintage or antique magazine, book, or other bound publication. Age-appropriate wear. Paper toning in accordance with the publication's age. Marks/stains as per photo.