Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 27A, December 28, 1915

Two weeks spent in hospital for operation. What at first threatened to be a period of ennui produced by idleness turned out to be most productive – After the third day, I could read and sketch.  Later my room was changed to one on the south, where out over the fields & woods, I could watch the play of sunlight in the clouds.  Here I sketched, dreamed and read at will.  I finished the marvelous “Myths of the Hindus + Buddhists”, and became acquainted with Hugo in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”
There lying in bed I was enjoyed almost complete isolation from the outside world, taking refuge in the books, or seeing the Elysian Fields in the landscape outside –