Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Two Ravines, 1934-1943; watercolor on joined paper mounted on board, 36 1/2 x 61 1/8 inches; Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Gift of the Benwood Foundation, HMAA.1976.3.9
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, January 28, 1931
Monday, Jan 28, 2013
For some reason while I was walking along yesterday I thought of a painting I started in 1917 of two hollows - one representing spring & life and [the] other winter and death - in 1919 I painted over this work with a lot of cheap tempera color and practically ruined it - I determined to try & "restore" it to its former state - So I have spent today mounting it, and trying to sponge off the top colors without injuring the ones below - This was far from being completely successful and I thought - if only some wise hand had been there to keep me from my folly of 1919! - However, tho it is impossible to restore the 1917 version completely, enough o it came thru to keep it from being irrevocably lost -
Charles Burchfield, January 28, 1931