Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), October in the Woods, 1938–63; Watercolor, gouache, chalk, and charcoal on joined papers, mounted on cardboard, 45 5/8 x 57 3/4 inches; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Isermann, 1997
In these days we have reliable weather reports a week in advance; formerly “weather prophets” could tell a day or so in advance from the appearance of the sky. Now we are told a cold wave is coming in a week with storm & freezing weather. There is something sinister about it. The weather is calm, lazy & misty; not a sign of rain or wind, and yet we know that a storm is far away constantly approaching. It gives to this dead calm a sinister quality it would not otherwise have.
Charles E. Burchfield, October 18, 1920