November Storm

Painted in 1950, November Storm portrays the turbulent change of seasons from autumn to the approach of winter. A few colorful leaves remain on the ground, but young trees are bent by the strong icy wind. A sturdy old tree rebuffs the gale that whips a massive white cloud into a winged spirit in the distant blackening sky. Burchfield drew inspiration “on a little used road southeast of East Aurora. A full scale blizzard was in progress. I protected myself and my easel by setting my beach umbrella under a hemlock tree, pointing into the wind. There is no snow shown in the painting—I tried to give the illusion of a snowstorm by the treatment of the objects in the painting.”

Mr. and Mrs. Sherlock A. Herrick, Jr. donated Charles E. Burchfield’s painting November Storm to the Burchfield Penney Art Center. This exhibition was the first public viewing of November Storm since recent acquisition and the exhibition opened on the 35th anniversary of the museum’s inauguration. The exhibition also included other works in the collection and on loan that feature storms and autumn to winter transitions.