Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Transcript of an autograph letter, signed by Charles Burchfield to Mrs. [Evan] Randolph, [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania], dated August 23, 1962.

August 23, 1962

Dear Mrs. Randolph:

                        I was very happy to [receive] your letter about the “Moon and Thunderhead” — [1960]. You say you “hope I don’t mind a letter like this” — Well, I certainly don’t – quite the contrary! [Receiving] such appreciative letters is one of the great rewards of painting.

The picture was based on a pencil study made in the summer of 1915, during the vacation following my third year in art school. The artist in me was in the process of being born, or at least coming out in the open, and the beauty of the world almost drove me wild — I made literally hundreds of such sketches with notes of color etc., all with the idea that later they would all graduate into pictures. I did not realize then that it would be about forty-five years before I had the experience and knowledge to execute them! I constantly refer to these notes now for ideas, and will continue to do so —

By day, at that time, I worked in the cost department of an auto parts concern to earn money to go back to school and every evening I would hurry to the “Three Trees” a locally famous group of trees but three or four blocks from my home in Salem, Ohio. Here I would sketch until dark — and on Saturday afternoon and Sunday I drew all day.

My purpose then, as it is now, was to try to compress into one picture the time-lapse of several hours, days, or even seasons. In the “Moon and Thunderhead” it is of course Day and Night.

Thank you again for your kind and thoughtful letter—

With cordial greetings—        Sincerely,

                                 Charles Burchfield