Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Starlit Woods is an interesting case of reconstruction which required investigation in our Charles E. Burchfield Archives and Charles E. Burchfield Foundation Archives. Originally there was a painting called Starlit Woods, dated Feb. 25, 1917, which is primarily at the center of this illustrated work. Burchfield added to the composition to make Star in the Woods, dated 1917-46, which was illustrated in the article by Judith Kay Reed, “Burchfield Finds Beauty in His Mother Lode,” Art Digest 22 (October 15, 1947): 21. After the painting was returned to Burchfield, he reduced the size and he changes to the foreground flowers, the star. and the space between the two main saplings, eliminating a third. The title reverted to Starlit Woods, but without a hyphenated date to document the alterations. -- Nancy Weekly, Burchfield Scholar