Charles Burchfield, Journals, June 23, 1937

Out William St. past Bowen Rd painting - Difficulty in coosing a subject. Finally “settle” on a young elm in a hayfield. It is “High Noon” - the high noon of the whole year. The sun so high, that its’ (sic) rays are vertical, and things have a blackish look. In looking northwards, I was stuck with the dark, colorlessness of the world, tho the sky was clear & the sun shone full strength. In the southern sky was a row of tiny white clouds, that cast pale violet ray-like shadows down 54. the sky. After the heavy rains, the whole earth seemed to be steaming, and the clouds were like hot vapor. In the meadow where I was, the heat was oppressive.
At late afternoon I eat my lunch by the side of a little road, where I was in the shadow of a scattered woods. Elder bushes were in bloom here.

Charles Burchfield, June 23, 1937