Educational Insights
Speaking of Pictures
Orion in December by Charles Burchfield
To a trained eye, almost every artwork contains clues that reveal a story. An artist may also convey subtle meaning through symbols or composition. Roll over various parts of this artwork to reveal the hidden meaning behind Orion in December.
Charles Burchfield, Orion in December, 1959, watercolor and pencil on paper, sheet: 39 7/8 x 32 7/8 in., Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., 1969.47.53
American artist Charles Burchfield once said, "An artist must paint not what he sees in nature, but what is there. To do so he must invent symbols, which, if properly used, make his work seem even more real than what is in front of him."
Burchfield developed his own set of symbols to represent the beauty and force of nature. Working with watercolor on paper, he described scenes around his home in Buffalo, New York, using marks and patterns corresponding to sights and sounds of the seasons. One of Burchfield's most striking compositions, Orion in December presents a magnificent night scene that conjures excitement and awe. Roll over the image to get the inside scoop.
Print the Popups
Often referred to as "the hunter" in Greek mythology, Orion is easily found by the three stars forming hunter's belt in the winter sky. The principal star Rigel is the seventh-brightest star in the heavens and transits the sky on December 20. A photograph from NASA shows the actual constellation. Pictured: The Constellation Orion, NASA
At the bottom of the painting is a branch of an ice-laden shrub. The series of dots represents its crackling sound in the frigid breeze. It also echoes the starlit sky, suggesting harmony between heaven and earth. Pictured: Detail from Orion in December
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