Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, November 5, 1938

During the years of his greatest painting activity, Delacroix wrote little if anything in his journal. This is easily understood—when a painter is busy at his work, he has little inclination to write—in fact, writing in a journal of course is self-expression, and really only a spiritual need when the painting impulse is low.

Thus I have found little or nothing to say about my several sketching trips of the last two weeks, excursions filled with hard work and innumerable impressions. The natural effects in the country this fall are of such unusual beauty that I have the frantic feeling I had in my youth, when I felt that I simply must record everything I saw from day to day.

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, November 5, 1938