Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, November 16, 1942

Monday night the Whitney Museum opened. Difficult to see pictures. I was again disappointed in my own (Budding Poplar Branches) – The frame seems to crush it. Frank claimed it was the pink walls on which it was hung, while Mrs. Force and Moore claimed it was the frame itself. It was the frame.

Afterwards a few of us invited up to Mrs. Force’s apartment. We left at 9:00. The Watkins and I to Pickwick Arms for dinner. [Pickwick Arms Hotel, 230 East 51st Street, New York, NY]

The food was delicious. Reggie Marsh, who lives around the corner, asked us to come to his apt. afterwards, then came before we were thru eating, to escort us over. He started to explain to Watkins the Maroget method of painting, and used the well-known phrase “painting wet into wet” – The rest of us were feeling silly from the effects of our food and drinks; we took his phrase up, and started singing “Wet into Wet – wet into wet” to the tune of the “Daring Young Man” –

Marsh’s apt. was six flights up — we were completely winded when we arrived at the top. We spent a pleasant hour there.

Charles Burchfield, November 16, 1942