Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Burchfield's notations reveal the symbolism he embedded in his painting: "Have all sorts of evil glowers under rocks, esp. all around pool, with evil reflection in water — a pool of death — sinister — evil lurking under logs, etc. / Have trees in fantastic grotesque mood — be sure to have everything — rocks, cavities under rocks in the grotesque mood — (The way things seem to the youth entering a new country or new place — they seem fearsome, strange, fantastic — The wonderland of a new place — only a youth can feel it —"