Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a watercolor drawing by Charles Burchfield. It dates from 1916 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Untitled, created by Charles Burchfield in 1916, is a mixed media drawing combining watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paper. It depicts a serene townscape at dusk, set beside a river, characterized by simple architecture, a bridge, and subtle human presence.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing captures the tranquil intersection of natural and built environments at dusk. The scene's serenity and the use of light may suggest an exploration of emotional resonance within everyday landscapes, a common theme in Burchfield's work.
Technique & Style
Burchfield employed watercolor, gouache, and pencil to achieve a distinctive visual effect. Notably, liberal use of white spaces mimics light reflections on water and bridge, imparting a dreamlike quality to the composition.
History & Provenance
Created in 1916, this piece is part of Burchfield's extensive oeuvre exploring light, atmosphere, and emotion. While specific provenance details are not provided, it aligns with his broader artistic preoccupations.
Context
This work reflects Burchfield's American modernist approach to depicting urban and natural scenes. His emphasis on light and mood places it within early 20th-century explorations of landscape emotionalism.
Legacy
As part of Burchfield's body of work, *Untitled* contributes to his recognized influence on American landscape and townscape painting, with his works held in over 109 museum collections worldwide.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Ephraim Burchfield (April 9, 1893 – January 10, 1967) was an American painter and visionary artist, known for his passionate watercolors of nature scenes and townscapes.
Sarratt
Sheriff Hutton; view over the plain of York, with York Minster in the distance
Manchester Ship Canal, Quay Street, Manchester
Church and Pigs Lee, Walmersley
King Athelstan's Palace, and stables (now cottages), Malmesbury
Old Wharves, Portmadoc, Caernarvonshire.
View of Pickering
Whitstable, 1934
18th Century Houses, South Quay, Yarmouth
Coal Breaker on the River
Militia Drilling
Mill Street Lock, Kidderminster