Skip to main contentProvenanceThe artist
Mr. and Mrs. John Clancy, New York, New York, October 1966 (gift from artist)
Frank K. M. Rehn Gallery, New York, New York
Dr. and Mrs. Fouad A. Rabiah, Flint, Michigan, May 1976
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1999
Exhibition HistoryPublished References
Charles Burchfield
(American, 1893–1967)
Dream of a Fantasy Flower
1960–66
Watercolor with wiping and scraping, over an off-white wove watercolor paper mounted on a millboard support
Frame: 33 × 39 3/4in. (83.8 × 101cm)
Frame: 42 3/8 × 48 1/2 × 1 1/4in. (107.6 × 123.2 × 3.2cm)
Frame: 42 3/8 × 48 1/2 × 1 1/4in. (107.6 × 123.2 × 3.2cm)
Credit LineTerra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra Collection
Object number1999.23
SignedLower right: monogram/1960–66
InterpretationVirtually quivering with fantastic energy, the springtime landscape pictured in Charles Burchfield's Dream of a Fantasy Flower expresses the artist's embrace of nature as equally a realm of the senses and the spirit. The watercolor brings the viewer directly into a woodland setting in early springtime, when small plants and flowers, like those in the immediate foreground, burst into color against the dull winter tints of evergreen trees. The radiating yellow aureoles surrounding these forms suggest the life-affirming glow of returning sunshine. Burchfield's dreamlike images of nature were grounded in deep first-hand knowledge of the plants and animals native to the area around his home in western New York State, such as the brightly marked red-headed woodpecker (a springtime migrant to northern latitudes) here ensconced in the dominant central tree. As his title indicates, however, the luxuriant flowering plant in the foreground is a product of imagination, just as nature itself served for the artist as an expression of mythic fantasy and religious emotion. The elements in the composition seem carefully planned for symbolic effect, with the central tree dividing the space into even halves: on the left, a vital evergreen is echoed in an opening in the distant trees through which light pours, while on the right a dark form like the mouth of a cave is flanked by the upright trunk of a long-dead tree.
A master watercolor painter, Burchfield took advantage of the medium's portability to work directly from the subjects he found on long, usually solitary tramps through the woods. In Dream of a Fantasy Flower he applied paint broadly and rapidly, with forceful strokes of intense, almost opaque watercolor and washes of highly dilute paint. In the background sky, individual strokes of pale grays are blended and worked by wiping and scraping, lending a mysterious, muted effect. Late in the artist's career he made a practice of reworking earlier paintings, often enlarging them by attaching strips of paper to their edges. Dream of a Fantasy Flower probably is the product of the artist's 1966 addition to and reworking of a watercolor painting begun six years earlier. The exact progression of Burchfield's work on it is unclear, however, for notwithstanding the addition of a band of paper to the work's top edge, the composition is a seamless integral whole.
A master watercolor painter, Burchfield took advantage of the medium's portability to work directly from the subjects he found on long, usually solitary tramps through the woods. In Dream of a Fantasy Flower he applied paint broadly and rapidly, with forceful strokes of intense, almost opaque watercolor and washes of highly dilute paint. In the background sky, individual strokes of pale grays are blended and worked by wiping and scraping, lending a mysterious, muted effect. Late in the artist's career he made a practice of reworking earlier paintings, often enlarging them by attaching strips of paper to their edges. Dream of a Fantasy Flower probably is the product of the artist's 1966 addition to and reworking of a watercolor painting begun six years earlier. The exact progression of Burchfield's work on it is unclear, however, for notwithstanding the addition of a band of paper to the work's top edge, the composition is a seamless integral whole.
Mr. and Mrs. John Clancy, New York, New York, October 1966 (gift from artist)
Frank K. M. Rehn Gallery, New York, New York
Dr. and Mrs. Fouad A. Rabiah, Flint, Michigan, May 1976
Daniel J. Terra Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1982
Terra Foundation for the Arts Collection, Chicago, Illinois, 1999
Exhibition History
Charles Burchfield, Frank K. M. Rehn Gallery, New York, New York, October 3–24, 1966.
Dedication: The Charles E. Burchfield Center: Recent Works by Charles E. Burchfield, Charles Burchfield Center, Buffalo, New York, December 9, 1966–January 27, 1967.
Charles Burchfield Memorial Exhibition: Paintings and Drawings, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, New York, March 1–April 21, 1968.
Works from the Clancy and Rehn Gallery Collection, Charles Burchfield Center, Buffalo, New York, June 29–November 2, 1969.
Charles Burchfield Memorial Exhibition, Ohio State Fair, Ohio Expositions Center, Columbus, Ohio, April 9–May 31, 1970, no. 28.
Charles Burchfield, The Later Years, 1944–1967, Christ College, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, February 10–March 2, 1976. [exh. cat.]
Exhibition loan, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, June 1976–1982.
Works on Paper, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan (organizer). Venue: Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, July 15–December 30, 1977.
Loan, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benton, Wilmette, Illinois, November 16–December 7, 1983.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, July 19–September 14, 1985.
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
Attitudes Toward Nature, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 30, 1995–April 21, 1996.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 1997.
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003 (on exhibit extended run: November 2, 2002–March 2, 2003).
Expanded Galleries of American Art with Loans from the Terra Foundation for American Art Collection, [Gallery 163] The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, April 15–July 2005.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
Exalted World: The Real and Fantastic of Charles E. Burchfield. Burchfield Penny Art Center at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York and Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (organizers). Venues: Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, August 23–November 16, 2014; Burchfield Penny Art Center at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, December 12, 2014–February 22, 2015. [exh. cat.]
American Landscapes, David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Venue: David C. Driskell Center, September 9–November 19, 2021. [exh. cat.]
Dedication: The Charles E. Burchfield Center: Recent Works by Charles E. Burchfield, Charles Burchfield Center, Buffalo, New York, December 9, 1966–January 27, 1967.
Charles Burchfield Memorial Exhibition: Paintings and Drawings, The American Academy of Arts and Letters, New York, New York, March 1–April 21, 1968.
Works from the Clancy and Rehn Gallery Collection, Charles Burchfield Center, Buffalo, New York, June 29–November 2, 1969.
Charles Burchfield Memorial Exhibition, Ohio State Fair, Ohio Expositions Center, Columbus, Ohio, April 9–May 31, 1970, no. 28.
Charles Burchfield, The Later Years, 1944–1967, Christ College, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Indiana, February 10–March 2, 1976. [exh. cat.]
Exhibition loan, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, June 1976–1982.
Works on Paper, Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan (organizer). Venue: Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan, July 15–December 30, 1977.
Loan, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Benton, Wilmette, Illinois, November 16–December 7, 1983.
Selections from the Permanent Collection, Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Evanston, Illinois, July 19–September 14, 1985.
A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, April 21–June 21, 1987. [exh. cat.]
Attitudes Toward Nature, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 30, 1995–April 21, 1996.
Collection Cameo, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 1997.
A Place on the Avenue: Terra Museum of American Art Celebrates 15 Years in Chicago, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizer). Venue: Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, November 16, 2002–February 16, 2003 (on exhibit extended run: November 2, 2002–March 2, 2003).
Expanded Galleries of American Art with Loans from the Terra Foundation for American Art Collection, [Gallery 163] The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, April 15–July 2005.
Manifest Destiny, Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. Terra Foundation for American Art, Chicago, Illinois and Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois (organizers). Venue: Loyola University Museum of Art, May 17–August 10, 2008. [exh. cat.]
Exalted World: The Real and Fantastic of Charles E. Burchfield. Burchfield Penny Art Center at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York and Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (organizers). Venues: Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, August 23–November 16, 2014; Burchfield Penny Art Center at Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, December 12, 2014–February 22, 2015. [exh. cat.]
American Landscapes, David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland. Venue: David C. Driskell Center, September 9–November 19, 2021. [exh. cat.]
Trovato, Joseph S. Charles Burchfield: Catalogue of Paintings in Public and Private Collections. Utica, New York: Museum of Art, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, 1970. Cat. 1322, p. 314.
Baigell, Matthew. Charles Burchfield. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1976. Text p. 14.
Brauer, Richard H. W. Mystical Landscapes-Charles Burchfield, The Later Years. (exh. cat., Christ College, Valparaiso University). Valparaiso, Indiana: Christ College, Valparaiso University, 1976. No. 22; ill. back cover.
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-179, p. 288 (color).
Randall, Teri. "The Cover." The Journal of the American Medical Association 268:10 (September 9, 1992): 1223. Text p. 1223; ill. cover (color).
The Journal of the American Medical Association Greece (1992): cover. Ill. cover (color).
The Journal of the American Medical Association Pakistan 5:6 (August 1993): cover. Ill. cover (color).
Maciejunes, Nannette V. and Michael D. Hall. The Paintings of Charles Burchfield: North by Midwest. (exh. cat., Columbus Museum of Art). New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., in association with the Columbus Museum of Art, 1997. Pl. 60, p. 181 (color).
Dream of a Fantasy Flower, Charles Burchfield. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 1997. Ill. (black & white).
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text pp. 31, 34 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 19, p. 55 (color).
Weekly, Nancy and Audrey Lewis, Exalted Nature: The Real and Fantastic World of Charles E. Burchfield. (exh. cat. Burchfield Penny Art Center) Buffalo: Burchfield Penney Art Center, SUNY Buffalo State, 2014. Fig. 88 (color), p.123, Text p.127 (Checklist).
Lewis, Audrey. "The World of Charles E. Burchfield." American Art Review 27:1 (February 2015): 36–93;111. Ill. p. 93 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text p. 190; ill. p. 190 (color).
The David C. Driskell Center. American Landscapes. (exh. cat., The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park). College Park, MD: The David C. Driskell Center, 2021. Ill. p 101 (color).
Baigell, Matthew. Charles Burchfield. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 1976. Text p. 14.
Brauer, Richard H. W. Mystical Landscapes-Charles Burchfield, The Later Years. (exh. cat., Christ College, Valparaiso University). Valparaiso, Indiana: Christ College, Valparaiso University, 1976. No. 22; ill. back cover.
Atkinson, D. Scott et al. A Proud Heritage: Two Centuries of American Art. Edited by Terry A. Neff. (exh. cat., Terra Museum of American Art). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for the Arts, 1987. Pl. T-179, p. 288 (color).
Randall, Teri. "The Cover." The Journal of the American Medical Association 268:10 (September 9, 1992): 1223. Text p. 1223; ill. cover (color).
The Journal of the American Medical Association Greece (1992): cover. Ill. cover (color).
The Journal of the American Medical Association Pakistan 5:6 (August 1993): cover. Ill. cover (color).
Maciejunes, Nannette V. and Michael D. Hall. The Paintings of Charles Burchfield: North by Midwest. (exh. cat., Columbus Museum of Art). New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., in association with the Columbus Museum of Art, 1997. Pl. 60, p. 181 (color).
Dream of a Fantasy Flower, Charles Burchfield. Collection Cameo sheet, Terra Museum of American Art, Chicago, Illinois, May 1997. Ill. (black & white).
Brownlee, Peter John. Manifest Destiny / Manifest Responsibility: Environmentalism and the Art of the American Landscape. (exh. cat., Loyola University Museum of Art, Chicago, Illinois). Chicago, Illinois: Terra Foundation for American Art and Loyola University Museum of Art, 2008. Text pp. 31, 34 (checklist); Ill. Pl. 19, p. 55 (color).
Weekly, Nancy and Audrey Lewis, Exalted Nature: The Real and Fantastic World of Charles E. Burchfield. (exh. cat. Burchfield Penny Art Center) Buffalo: Burchfield Penney Art Center, SUNY Buffalo State, 2014. Fig. 88 (color), p.123, Text p.127 (Checklist).
Lewis, Audrey. "The World of Charles E. Burchfield." American Art Review 27:1 (February 2015): 36–93;111. Ill. p. 93 (color).
Bourguignon, Katherine M., and Peter John Brownlee, eds. Conversations with the Collection: A Terra Foundation Collection Handbook. Chicago: Terra Foundation for American Art, 2018. Text p. 190; ill. p. 190 (color).
The David C. Driskell Center. American Landscapes. (exh. cat., The David C. Driskell Center at the University of Maryland, College Park). College Park, MD: The David C. Driskell Center, 2021. Ill. p 101 (color).