In Two Children under the Christmas Tree, painted in 1914, Paul Adolf Seehaus depicts two young boys seated beneath the boughs of a Christmas tree, rendered in oil on canvas mounted on board. The composition centers on the children, who are shown with light blond hair and simple clothing, absorbed in their surroundings. A stylized toy animal, possibly a dog, lies between them on a dark, abstracted ground, while the tree above is marked by glowing candle shapes, suggesting a festive occasion. The scene is constructed with broad, expressive brushstrokes and a palette dominated by deep greens, reds, and yellows, lending the work a sense of intimacy and warmth.

The forms are simplified and the features of the children are generalized, focusing attention on the overall mood rather than specific likenesses. The illumination appears to come from the upper part of the painting, where the lit candles on the tree cast a gentle light over the figures below. Painted during the First World War, this work is known to show the sons of the painter August Macke, who had recently died in combat. Two Children under the Christmas Tree measures 50 by 35 cm and has been cited in the literature on Paul Adolf Seehaus, specifically in Peter Dering’s 2004 monograph.

The work’s connection to the Macke family situates it within the circle of German Expressionism and the personal histories shaped by the events of 1914.