Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

The gnarled trunk of a barren tree reverberates with a woodpecker’s rapid drilling. Below, lavender johnny-jump-ups squint their faces in reaction to the cacophony. Sounds ricochet in all directions, permeating the woods.  Burchfield conveyed the distinctive sounds of birds and insects, as well as the colors and forms of noteworthy plants and trees in order to recreate the intensity of his encounters with nature. By appealing to more than one of the senses, Burchfield’s paintings evoke experiences that can be shared with others. —Nancy Weekly