Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Spider and Grasshoppers, 1948; watercolor on joined paper mounted on, 44 x 34 inches; Burchfield Penney Art Center, Gift of the Burchfield Foundation, 1974
Charles Burchfield, Journals, October 2, 1934
Thursday, Oct 1, 2015
At noon Bertha called my attention to strands of spider webs in the sky. The trick was to get the sun back of our chimney. – then they were clearly visible, by their highlights – the longer we looked the more were revealed, until we realized there were thousands of them, all concentric (so-appearing) with the sun, and shimmering with a silvery glint – the sight was thrilling. I looked until the brilliant light brought blinding tears to my eyes.
2 P.M. word that Bertha’s mother was expected to live but 24 hours. Pack hurriedly, and taking the children from school, left for Ohio at 4:30. A sense of need to hurry made even 55 miles an hour seem a drag. Buy sandwiches at Erie. Arrive at the farm 11:00.
Charles Burchfield, October 2, 1934