Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Several artists and writers portrayed the grueling pioneer life in the Midwest where hardworking people needed both stamina and courage to endure.  This painting was inspired by Zona Gale’s novel Lulu Bett and Dvořák's "New World Symphony."  For it, Burchfield experimented with a new oil tempera medium after instruction from Arthur B. Davies. Ultimately disliking its opacity, he quit using it after a few tries.

Explaining his second version, an oil titled November Evening (1931-34, collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art), Burchfield wrote: “I have attempted to express the coming of winter over the Middle West as it must have felt to the pioneers—great black clouds sweep out of the west at twilight as if to overwhelm not only the pitiful human attempt at a town, but also the earth itself.”

In 1953 R. C. A. Victor asked Charles Burchfield for permission to reproduce November Evening on the record jacket of a new release of Dvořák’s “Symphony from the New World.” He was especially delighted because “the first version of November Evening, made in 1920, was partially inspired by a Victor recording of the Largo, (played by the Philadelphia Orchestra, Stokowski conducting.)”