Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Wet Snow and Ice, 1947-55; Transparent and opaque watercolor on paper, 37 7/8 × 30 inches; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Gift of Vincent B. Murphy, Jr., 95.89
Charles E. Burchfield, Journals December 28, 1959 - January 2, 1960
Wednesday, Dec 28, 2016
The Great Ice storm – the “worst” (as the paper put it) in 30 years. Altho (sic) calamitous in a material way – thousands of home without power (ours was off about 36 hours) in a visual sense, phenomenon of incredible and varied beauty; day after day revealing new startlingly beautiful effects – Never before have we seen such sights – Impossible to describe – On Wednesday night we had to stay at Richters overnight which turned out to be fun for all of us. In the morning Bertha had to wake me at 8:00 to tell me our power was on again - & Mel Schmidt was waiting to turn on the furnaces. The children all came rushing in to greet me with kisses – The fact that I was unwashed, unshaven, & uncombed made not the slightest difference to them.
This morning the rising sun turned all the ice-covered trees to glittering coral-pink against a blue velvet bank of clouds.
It is warmer today – the ice is dropping constantly from the trees with a great clattering.
Word from Glenway Westcot (for the Nat. Inst of Arts & Letters) that I have been voted the Gold Medal for Painting, their highest honor – one that fills me with the greatest pleasure.
Charles E. Burchfield, December 28 – January 2, 1960-61