Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967)

Charles E. Burchfield, Journals, Vol. 26, Aug. 31, 1915, pp. 99-102:

             This morning early, I awoke & thought that a dim light over the trees was first light — looking out I saw it was the half moon in the east. I fell asleep and dreamed I was looking at some Japanese prints. One was a thunderstorm suggested by rhythms which convinced my mind (which in the dream was doubtful of my art) that my wildest discoveries were plausible. When I awoke, I realized it was not a Japanese print but my own art revealed to me much more clearly than I had yet, awake, conceived it.

            I have conceived an opera or music drama which I shall put on a remote height in my mind as a dream, which I can bring forth at times to solace me. The Indian myth “Hiawatha” is to be...the basis. In the great tragedy of the Indian race being exterminated by the Europeans is to be symbolized the greater tragedy of nature being lost & destroyed by commercialism; the great tragedy of art being sullied by commercialism; of the great tragedy of humanity seeking truth out of foolish books & not from nature—

            I could never hope ever to be able to compose any music; but I shall dream of it as fully as if I expected some day to do it.

            If the idea should be revealed to me as possible to the art of painting, I would be wonderfully happy.