Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), The Horn Call from the Sibelius Fifth, c. 1963; conté crayon on paper with collaged paper changes, 25 1/8 x 38 7/8 inches; Burchfield Penney Art Center, Purchased with funds from the Dr. and Mrs. Armand J. Castellani Endowment, 1992
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, May 25, 1940
Saturday, May 25, 2019
It takes a fine, unusual sort of courage to have faith at a time like this. That is why the common run of artist finds relief in painting pictures of pessimism and gloom. They are following the line of least resistance. But they will be deliberately discarded and forgotten by mankind when a better time comes—and rightly so. For us, the Sibelius 5th Symphony (an act of Faith) is of far more importance than the Great War of 1914-18, which occurred at the same time. In time that war, and its offspring the present struggle, will be but an unpleasant memory; eventually it will have no more emotional significance to our descendants than the Napoleonic wars have for us. But the Beethoven 5th and the Sibelius 5th, will continue to grow in power and significance.
—Charles E. Burchfield, May 25, 1940