Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Sunburst in December, 1915; watercolor and pencil, 20 x 14 inches; Image from the Burchfield Penney Archives
Charles Burchfield, Journals, November 13, 1914
Thursday, Nov 13, 2014
Mid-morning showed a wonderful phenomenon of sunlight. Thru holes in the clouds the sun sent great shafts of light, and as the clouds hurried along the shafts swung around like giant searchlights—a marvelous sight. When there were several, they appeared as a great rimless wheel slowly revolving thru space. I was keyed up to the highest pitch of excitement and moved restlessly from window to window unable to satisfy myself and finally ended up by going out of doors where the wind snapped around my shoulders.
Charles Burchfield, November 13, 1914