Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Railroad in Spring, 1933; Transparent And Opaque Watercolor Over Graphite On Wove Paper Mounted On Cardboard, 28 1/16 x 42 inches; de Young Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller III
Charles E. Burchfield's Dreams, Journals, December 20, 1917
Friday, May 4, 2018
A Dream
A confused unearthly dusk –
A train of various kinds of freight cars going northward in the gloom. I was riding – we were going past a line of small factory buildings. Suddenly the cars commenced one by one to slide over and come to a stop in the spaces between the buildings. I got out & continued my journey; I was going north on a narrow, dry road. Dull white light lit up dead grass around me; the road led downhill towards a black valley; a dog and a cub-lion commenced to pursue me, as I turned on them they whimpered & cowered & disappeared in the gloom. My feeling of fear was mingled with confusion at frightening them. My back turned they appeared again, and I ran. The lion ran to the side and was like a piece of tattered windblown paper – when I would turn, they would cower & run away, & I would feel the same remorse; we went on always downhill.
Charles E. Burchfield, December 20, 1917