Charles Burchfield

Old House by Creek
1938

A painting depicting a bleak winter scene with snow-covered ground and a partially frozen river in the foreground. Reflecting on the water's surface are the dark, weathered facades of several multi-story brick buildings with external fire escapes. Bare trees and scattered debris dot the landscape, and a smokestack emits a plume of smoke in the background, suggesting human presence amidst the desolation. A bridge is partially visible in the upper right corner, adding to the urban environment. The painting is signed and dated at the bottom right.

A painting depicting a bleak winter scene with snow-covered ground and a partially frozen river in the foreground. Reflecting on the water's surface are the dark, weathered facades of several multi-story brick buildings with external fire escapes. Bare trees and scattered debris dot the landscape, and a smokestack emits a plume of smoke in the background, suggesting human presence amidst the desolation. A bridge is partially visible in the upper right corner, adding to the urban environment. The painting is signed and dated at the bottom right.

Not on view

Date
1938

Classification
Paintings

Medium
Oil on canvas

Dimensions
Overall: 34 3/4 × 57 3/8in. (88.3 × 145.7 cm)

Accession number
39.14

Credit line
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase

Rights and reproductions
Reproduced with permission from the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

API
artworks/2549

Exhibitions

Heat Waves in a Swamp: The Paintings of Charles Burchfield

June 24–Oct 17, 2010

Charles Burchfield
38 works in the collection

View artist