Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Song of the Tree Cricket, 1959-60; watercolor, gouache, white chalk and black charcoal on wove paper, 44 x 27 inches; Burchfield Penney Art Center, Purchase and partial gift from anonymous donors and Albert M. and Raquel R. Wasserman, 2003
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, August 6, 1959
Thursday, Aug 6, 2015
(Russia launched Sputnik 1 on October 4, 1957)
…B & I to Creans for a snack – then watched TV until 11:00 –
Then out to backyard to listen to listen to the tree-cricket chorus. The skies had cleared off, and stars were very brilliant — Jupiter, first seen behind the ash tree so brilliant I thought it was the ‘new’ crescent moon.
Under the willow-tree looking upward through its night-obscured branches, which seemed to extend up to infinity – stars sparkling through the leaves, a wonderful sensation, – and at last I suddenly realized I was completely free of the disturbing obsession of outer space that started in my mind when Sputnik 1 was put into orbit. I feel that I could sense more of Infinity and God through looking up into this night-willow, than if I sailed to Jupiter and beyond in a space-ship.
Charles E. Burchfield, August 6, 1959