Night of the Equinox

Charles Burchfield, Night of the Equinox, 1917-1955, watercolor, brush and ink, gouache, and charcoal on paper mounted on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.86
Charles Burchfield, Night of the Equinox, 1917-1955, watercolor, brush and ink, gouache, and charcoal on paper mounted on paperboard, 40 1852 18 in. (102.0132.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, 1986.6.86

Artwork Details

Title
Night of the Equinox
Date
1917-1955
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
40 1852 18 in. (102.0132.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation
Mediums Description
watercolor, brush and ink, gouache, and charcoal on paper mounted on paperboard
Classifications
Subjects
  • Landscape — weather — rain
  • Architecture Exterior — domestic — house
  • Landscape — river
  • Landscape — time — night
Object Number
1986.6.86

Artwork Description

Charles Burchfield used landscape forms as symbols to convey dreams, memories, and reminiscences of childhood. In Night of the Equinox, which captured a violent storm in the backyard of his parent’s home in Salem Ohio, driving rain pours from ominous clouds, and fantastical trees dance in the electrified air. The artist remembered the experience as “One of the most exciting weather events of the whole year. What we called the spring equinoctial storm. It seemed as if terrific forces were abroad in the land.”


Modern American Realism: The Sara Roby Foundation Collection, 2014

Works by this artist (9 items)

Philip Reisman, The Fruit Wagon, 1928, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Philip Reisman, 1993.4.4
The Fruit Wagon
Date1928
etching on paper
Not on view
Philip Reisman, Builders I, 1928, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Philip Reisman, 1993.4.2
Builders I
Date1928
etching on paper
Not on view
Philip Reisman, Bed Time, 1928, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Philip Reisman, 1993.4.1
Bed Time
Date1928
etching on paper
Not on view
Philip Reisman, Fountain of Youth, ca. 1928, etching on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Philip Reisman, 1993.4.5
Fountain of Youth
Dateca. 1928
etching on paper
Not on view

Exhibitions

Media - 1986.6.100 - SAAM-1986.6.100_2 - 135134
Modern American Realism: Highlights from the Sara Roby Foundation Collection
This exhibition presents some of the most treasured paintings and sculpture from SAAM’s permanent collection, including artworks by Will Barnet, Isabel Bishop, Paul Cadmus, Edward Hopper, Yasuo Kuniyoshi, Jacob Lawrence, George Tooker, among others.

More Artworks from the Collection

Claire Falkenstein, City is Man, 1941-1952, linocut, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.14, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
City is Man
Date1941-1952
linocut
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Untitled, 1976, embossed paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.18, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Untitled
Date1976
embossed paper
Not on view
Claire Falkenstein, Mandala, 1977, lithograph, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of The Falkenstein Foundation, 2019.27.19, ©1997, The Falkenstein Foundation
Mandala
Date1977
lithograph
Not on view
Les Quais de la Seine a Paris
Date1917
hand-colored etching on postcard
Not on view