CHARLES EPHRAIM BURCHFIELD (American, 1893-1967) “WASHINGTON SQUARE ARCH”.

CHARLES EPHRAIM BURCHFIELD (American, 1893-1967) “WASHINGTON SQUARE ARCH”. Pencil drawing showing the large stone arch with figures and a two-horse carriage. Bottom left corner with foundation stamp and “B-262″. From the New York sketchbook, 1916. Washington Square Arch is mentioned by John I. H.Baur and illustrated full-page on page 55 of The Inlander. Though Burchfield made some important contacts in New York, including Mary Mowbray-Clarke, who became his first agent, it was a difficult time for him, both economically and spiritually. It’s clear from what he wrote in his journal that his state of mind was unsettled. He had always lived in the country and the metropolis wore on his psyche. Throughout Burchfield’s career he used abstract symbols to superimpose human emotions upon natural subjects and that was a large part of what gives his work power and imagination. The ink drawing of a bat shape that appears over the arch is a significant symbol of his distraught mental state at this time, which was probably drawn prior to the Washington Square Arch work itself. One of the other works that Baur chose to illustrate shows a hotel at night where the windows become bat shapes also. Burchfield was an artist who matured early and Baur understood the importance of these drawings in Burchfield’s oeuvre. SIZE: 9-1/4″ x 6”. CONDITION: Very good. 9-21987 (2,000-4,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2401	$1,380.00	CHARLES EPHRAIM BURCHFIELD (American, 1893-1967) “WASHINGTON SQUARE ARCH”. Pencil drawing showing the large stone arch with figures and a two-horse carriage. Bottom left corner with foundation stamp and “B-262″. From the New York sketchbook, 1916. Washington Square Arch is mentioned by John I. H.Baur and illustrated full-page on page 55 of The Inlander. Though Burchfield made some important contacts in New York, including Mary Mowbray-Clarke, who became his first agent, it was a difficult time for him, both economically and spiritually. It’s clear from what he wrote in his journal that his state of mind was unsettled. He had always lived in the country and the metropolis wore on his psyche. Throughout Burchfield’s career he used abstract symbols to superimpose human emotions upon natural subjects and that was a large part of what gives his work power and imagination. The ink drawing of a bat shape that appears over the arch is a significant symbol of his distraught mental state at this time, which was probably drawn prior to the Washington Square Arch work itself. One of the other works that Baur chose to illustrate shows a hotel at night where the windows become bat shapes also. Burchfield was an artist who matured early and Baur understood the importance of these drawings in Burchfield’s oeuvre. SIZE: 9-1/4″ x 6”. CONDITION: Very good. 9-21987 (2,000-4,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - August 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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