Charles Burchfield: Creator of Symbolism in Art

1 - I can do better 2 - Jury's out 3 - Pretty darn good 4 - Splendiferous 5 - Awesometastic by 2 people | Log in to rate

Ranked #830 in Arts , #16,037 overall

Charles Burchfield's Paintings Stir Up Forgotten Childhood Memories.

Why do I like the art of Charles Burchfield? His paintings stir up emotions I didn't even know I had!

Charles Ephraim Burchfield (1893--1967) was an American artist who drew upon his vivid memories of childhood to create some of the most innovative art ever seen. Searching for a way to express his childhood emotions and memories, Burchfield devised a series of symbols to express sounds, moods, movement, and sensations. The majority of Burchfield's works were composed from watercolors, but some of his larger works were done in oils.

Burchfield's sensitivity to sounds moved him almost as much as sight, and he was particularly fascinated with the sound of crickets and other insects. Symbols for these sounds, as well as symbols expressing moods such as: fear, morbidness, dangerous brooding, insanity, menace, fascination of evil, melancholy, hypnotic intensity, imbecility, fear of loneliness, nostalgia, and meditation are to be found in his 1917 sketchbook titled, "Conventions For Abstract Thoughts."

Most of Burchfield's symbols are based on his association of emotions with particular shapes. For example, "fascination of evil" is depicted by a smiling mouth; "insanity" and "imbecility" by staring-eye motifs. Burchfield began to weave these symbols into his works in 1917, at the young age of twenty-four.

I especially enjoy the way Burchfield's interpretations often turn inanimate objects such as buildings, trees, and skies into monstrous creatures, invoking feelings of a childhood encounter with the "boogey man." A prime example is his painting, "Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night." I also enjoy paintings such as "The Insect Chorus." Looking at this painting, one is overwhelmed by the aura of insects; you can actually feel their presence, and their song and movements ring out loud and clear.

"Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night" by Charles Burchfield 1917 

Composed in black ink, watercolor wash, and crayon,
"Church Bells Ringing, Rainy Winter Night," is one of the finest examples of Burchfield's early creative period. It's a documentation of the terror Burchfield felt as a child upon encountering the booming sound of church bells on a dark and dreary night.

Charles Burchfield on Wikipedia 


Charles Ephraim Burchfield (April 9, 1893 - January 10, 1967), an American watercolor painter, was born in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio. He is known for his visual commentaries on the effects of Industrialism on small town America as well as for his paintings of nature. His paintings are in the collections of many major museums in the USA and have been the subject of exhibitions at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art as well as other prominent institutions.

His Life

His Life 

Charles Burchfield was born on April 9, 1893, in Ashtabula, Ohio, the fifth of six children. His father died when Charles was only four. Left penniless, his mother took the family back to her hometown of Salem, Ohio.

Burchfield showed a strong interest and talent for painting early on, as well as a love for nature. He was a shy child, and very reserved; from fifth grade until his senior year in high school, he had no close friends, and spent a large part of his time alone. Burchfield began working part time while in the seventh grade. An avid reader, when not working, painting, or attending school, he read anything he could get his hands on.

In 1917, Burchfield began incorporating symbols, motifs, and colors into his work to represent movement, sounds, moods, and sensations. During this period, his paintings took on a bold, expressionistic quality. His largest body of work was produced during this time, and many critics agree that he created his most significant work during this period.

In 1918, Burchfield was drafted into the U.S. Army. After being released in 1919, he did a series of water colors which, unfortunately, he later destroyed.

In 1921, Burchfield moved to Buffalo, New York, where he met and married Bertha. They had five children together. In 1929, Burchfield was able to quit his job working at a wallpaper company and support his household full time with his painting.

Although Burchfield spent most of his life in Buffalo, the greatest influences in his art are derived from his experiences while living as a child in rural Ohio--frolicking in the fields and woods, collecting wildflowers and pollywogs, minnows, moths, and other insects, as well as frequenting the local swimming hole.

Many of Burchfield's paintings represent classic Americana of the period, providing fascinating historical documents. Burchfield is best known for his American Scene paintings of the 1920s and '30s, where he combined nature scenes with views of small-town America. In the 1940s, Burchfield rejected this realism, returning to his earlier approach of focusing on nature, embracing his beloved expressionistic style of painting once again. During this time, Burchfield even managed to rework many of his older paintings, often pasting paper around the borders in order to extend them.

Burchfield experienced many ups and downs in his art career, continually changing his focus. He often experienced periods of time when he was unable to bring himself to paint. Thankfully, these bleak periods eventually passed, and Charles always rebounded with renewed vim and vigor.

From 1949--52, Burchfield taught art at the Art Institute of Buffalo. He also taught summer class at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, and the University of Buffalo, as well as the University of Minnesota, Duluth Branch, Duluth Minnesota. He also taught advanced seminar at Buffalo Fine Arts Academy.

In 1967, Charles Burchfield died of a heart attack in West Seneca, New York.

During his lifetime, Burchfield participated in many one-man exhibitions, and was the recipient of many awards and honors for his art.

Writing in his exhibition catalog of the University of Arizona Art Gallery (1965), Burchfield said that he believed 1917 to be the "golden year" of his career.

Many of Burchfield's original works are housed at the Burchfield Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College, New York, which was originally dedicated in Burchfield's honor in 1966.

"The real artist is never at rest--he is always painting, if not actually, with his eye, or in his mind." --Charles Burchfield

The Symbols

Signs and Symbols Used by Burchfield: 

  • "M"=Fear and anxiety
  • "V"=Hope and renewal
  • Everyday symbols (such as birds, trees, flowers, stars, sunlight, moonlight, and dark pools of water)=Burchfield's own feelings.
  • Chevrons and black dots=force and movement
  • Auras and "vibrating lines"=sounds (such as insects and taping woodpeckers)
  • Smiling mouth=fascination of evil
  • Staring eyes=insanity and imbecility
  • Peaked form=morbidness
  • Hooked spiral=fear
  • Looping line=A bird's musical notes

The Paintings

"Night of the Equinox" by Charles Burchfield 1917--1955 

40- by 52-inches. "Night of the Equinox" took Burchfield thirty-eight years to complete, and combines many artistic phases of his career. Drama is created by a limited palette of somber colors, and bold slashes of paint represent a driving rain.

"The Red Admiral" by Charles Burchfield 1962 

37- by 28-inches

"Rainy Night" by Charles Burchfield 1918 

Created in watercolor and black chalk

"The Insect Chorus" by Charles Burchfield 1917 

19 7/8- by 15 7/8-inches.

"February Dusk" by Charles Burchfield 1918 

15- by 21-inches

"A Dream of Butterflies" by Charles Burchfield 1962 

30- by 40-inches

"Storm at Sunset" by Charles Burchfield 1959 

30- by 53-inches

"Forest Fire in Moonlight" by Charles Burchfield 1920 

25 1/2- by 18 1/4-inches

"Sunday Morning at Eleven O'Clock" by Charles Burchfield 1917 

22- by 18-inches

"Childhood's Garden" by Charles Burchfield 1917 

18 7/8- by 27-inches

"Moon Over Village" by Charles Burchfield 1917 

18- by 22-inches

"Orion in December" by Charles Burchfield 1959 

39 7/8- by 32 7/8-inches. "Orion in December" brings to mind the myth of the hunter, Orion, who although loved by Artemis, was accidentally killed by her. Upon his death, Orion rises up to heaven to be eternally embraced in the constellations. At the bottom center of the painting, there is a star which is said to resemble a butterfly, a symbol of resurrection.

"Steel Mill Houses" by Charles Burchfield 1919 

19- by 32-inches

"October in the Woods" by Charles Burchfield 1938 

45- by 57-inches

"Street Scene" by Charles Burchfield 1940--47 

39- by 53-inches

"Sultry Day" by Charles Burchfield 1959 

40- by 33-inches

"Rainy Night" by Charles Burchfield 1929--1930 

30- by 42-inches

Charles Burchfield Books on Amazon 

Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield

Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Charles Burchfield 1920: The Architecture of Painting

Amazon Price: $31.50 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Charles Burchfield's Seasons (Essential Paintings Series)

Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Charles Burchfield's Journals: The Poetry of Place

Amazon Price: (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Charles E. Burchfield: The Sacred Woods

Amazon Price: $30.78 (as of 11/25/2009) Buy Now

Art Exhibits

Charles E. Burchfield's World on DVD 

Charles E. Burchfields World on DVD

LAndSVideo.com presents Charles E. Burchfields World Share an insiders look at the life and art of Charles E. Burchfield, one of the greatest American painters. He developed his own private vocabulary of brushstrokes to convey natures most delicate moods. As an artist it is impossible for me to imagine anything better or more beautiful than painting this world. This documentary shows a visionary painters life and journey that transcends reality into something extraordinary. To learn more or ...

Runtime: 1:01 | 116 views | 0 Comments

 

automatically generated by YouTube

Burchfield's Mark 

Burchfield's Mark

Consistent with its mission as both a dedicated and regional museum, the Burchfield Penney has, throughout its history, broadened its range of commitments and activities, while intensifying the museum's focus on the work of Charles E. Burchfield. In addition to its visual arts offerings, the Burchfield Penney regularly presents concerts, literary readings, lectures, symposia, workshops, and special events. This diverse programming provides artists, students, scholars, collectors, and the general public with opportunities to learn and exchange ideas about how Western New York art reflects American aesthetics and culture. Charles Burchfield inspired the creation of the museum at Buffalo State College in 1966. Originally called the Charles Burchfield Center, the Burchfield Penney was formally created through the Buffalo State College Foundation Inc. Its first director was Edna M. Lindemann, Ph. D. In 1983, the museum was renamed the Burchfield Art Center to support its multi-arts focus. Committing to a full range of visual expression, including craft art, architecture, and design, as well as fine art, the Burchfield Penney Council formally accepted an expanded mission in 1988. Led by its second director, Anthony Bannon, Ph.D., who served from September 1985 through March 1996, the Burchfield Penney began a decade of significant growth. Expansions of exhibition space, archives and collection storage, and administrative offices were accompanied by increased fiscal and community support. Between 1991 and 1994, the Burchfield Art Center received a series of gifts from Charles Rand Penney, Ph.D., including the largest private collection of works by Charles E. Burchfield; publications and hand-crafted domestic objects from the Roycroft community; and historic and contemporary works of craft and fine art. These collections, which have been used in numerous exhibitions, educational programs, and publications, have provided the Burchfield Penney with invaluable national exposure. In 1994, the museum was renamed the Burchfield Penney Art Center to honor the significance of these gifts and their contribution to the museums mission. Community collaborations, including those that led to the development of the Elmwood Museum District and the Olmsted Crescent, the public art projects Herd About Buffalo and Art On Wheels and a dynamic exhibition schedule, illustrate the museums growth. The Burchfield Penney began a new phase of service to a national and international audience with its third director, Ted Pietrzak, who joined the museum in 1998. The latest chapter of the museums history began in 1998 when William J. Magavern II proposed a new museum building for the Burchfield Penney with a significant lead gift. After almost 10 years of planning, fundraising and construction, the new Burchfield Penney Art Center is set to open on the campus of Buffalo State College.

Runtime: 308
276 views
0 Comments:

curated content from YouTube

Links

Charles Burchfield in Later Years 

Enjoy This Lens? 

Check out my other lenses

Quick--Name Your Favorite Burchfield Painting! 

submit

by Blonde_Blythe

I'm a big-eye artist who paints in the traditional way--I use acrylic paint on canvas. My inspiration is the Blythe doll--a saucer-eyed vinyl doll wit... (more)

Explore related pages

Create a Lens!