The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 20, 2025

Setting Sun through the Catalpas (Late August Sunset)

August 27, 1916

Charles Burchfield

(American, 1893–1967)
America
Watercolor and opaque watercolor with graphite on wove paper
Sheet: 50.5 x 35.3 cm (19 7/8 x 13 7/8 in.)
Hinman B. Hurlbut Collection 1930.850
Reproduced with permission from the Charles E. Burchfield Foundation
Catalogue raisonné: Straus 142; Trovato 196
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

Burchfield's notations about color placement can be seen behind the layers of watercolor in this drawing, when studied closely.

Description

Burchfield began to experiment actively with watercolor after returning to Salem. Early on, he worked carefully, outlining the composition completely in pencil before filling it in with watercolor. Faint graphite lines are visible throughout this depiction of the sun casting light through a star-shaped opening between flowering bushes. He later broke from this practice and worked directly with watercolor.
  • 1930
    (Frank K.M. Rehn Gallery, NY, sold to Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH)
    1930-
    Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Baur, John I. H. The Inlander: Life and Work of Charles Burchfield 1893-1967. Newark: University of Delaware Press, 1984. Mentioned: p. 40; Reproduced: p. 44
    Maciejunes, Nannette V., and Michael D. Hall. The Paintings of Charles Burchfield: North by Midwest. Exh. Cat. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc. in association with the Columbus Museum of Art, 1997. Mentioned: pp. 114-115; Reproduced: p. 115
    Townsend, J. Benjamin, ed. Charles Burchfield's Journals: The Poetry of Place. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1993. Mentioned: p. 431
    Exhibition of Paintings by Charles Burchfield. Exh. Cat. Cleveland: Cleveland School of Art, 1941. Mentioned: no. 5
    Maciejunes, Nannette V. The Early Works of Charles E. Burchfield, 1915-1921. Exh. Cat. Columbus: Columbus Museum of Art, 1987. Mentioned: no. 25; Reproduced: p. 37
    Bauer, John I. H. Charles Burchfield. Exh. Cat. New York: Whitney Museum, 1956. Mentioned: no. 8; Reproduced: plate 4
    O'Connor, John, Jr. "Charles Burchfield: Exhibition of His Paintings at the Carnegie Institute." Carnegie Magazine 11 (March 1938): 309-312.
    "Pittsburgh: A Comprehensive Showing of the Work of Burchfield." Art News 36 (April 2, 1938): 18.
    Trovato, Joseph S. The Nature of Charles Burchfield: A Memorial Exhibition, 1893–1967, Paints, Drawings, Prints. Exh. Cat. Utica, NY: Museum of Art, Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, 1970. Mentioned: no. 68
    Curry, Larry. Eight American Masters of Watercolor: Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Maurice B. Prendergast, John Marin, Arthur G. Dove, Charles Demuth, Charles E. Burchfield, Andrew Wyeth. Exh. Cat. Los Angeles: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, 1968. Mentioned: no. 83; Reproduced
    Trovato, Joseph S. Charles Burchfield: Catalogue of Paintings in Public and Private Collections. Utica: Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, 1970. Mentioned: p. 51, no. 196; Reproduced: p. 36
  • Charles Burchfield: The Ohio Landscapes, 1915–1920. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (December 22, 2018-May 5, 2019).
    Main Gallery Rotation (gallery 228). Cleveland Museum of Art (October 19, 2009 - February 22, 2010).
    Visions Out the Window and Down the Street: A Golden Anniversary Celebration of the Art of Charles E. Burchfield at the Brauer Museum of Art. Brauer Museum of Art, Valparaiso, IN (organizer) (July 24-October 10, 2004).
    The Paintings of Charles Burchfield: North by Midwest. Columbus Museum of Art (March 25-May 19, 1997); Burchfield Penney Art Center (June 15-August 17, 1997); National Museum of American Art, Washington, DC (September 1, 1997-January 25, 1998).
    The Early Work of Charles E. Burchfield. Columbus Museum of Art (December 13, 1987-February 7, 1988); Laguna Art Museum (March 5-April 24, 1988); Burchfield Penney Art Center (May 14-July 3, 1988).
    Charles Burchfield.. The Metropolitan Museum of Art (January 30-March 25, 1984); Milwaukee Art Museum (April 20-June 19, 1984); Oklahoma City Museum of Art (September 14-November 11, 1984).
    Cleveland Traditions: Water Colors and Enamels from the Cleveland Museum of Art. Frank J. Lausche State Office Building.
    Cleveland Traditions: Enamels and Watercolors from the Cleveland Museum of Art. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 30-October 16, 1983).
    The Nature of Charles Burchfield: A Memorial Exhibition, 1893–1967, Paints, Drawings, Prints. Munson Museum of Art, Utica, NY (organizer) (April 3-June 14, 1970).
    Eight American Masters of Watercolor: Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Maurice B. Prendergast, John Marin, Arthur G. Dove, Charles Demuth, Charles E. Burchfield, Andrew Wyeth. Los Angeles County Museum of Art (April 23-June 16, 1968); Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, de Young Museum (June 28-August 18, 1968); Seattle Art Museum (September 5-October 13, 1968).
    Paintings by Charles Burchfield.. Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Museum of American Art.
    Charles Burchfield Retrospective Exhibition. Whitney Museum of American Art (January 11-February 26, 1956); The Baltimore Museum of Art (March 14-April 22, 1956); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (May 9-June 17, 1956); San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (July 11-August 19, 1956); Los Angeles County Museum of Art (September 5-October 14, 1956); The Phillips Collection (November 4-December 11, 1956); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (December 28, 1956-February 10, 1957).
    Charles Burchfield: A Retrospective Exhibition of Watercolors and Oils 1916-1943. Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo, NY (organizer); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (January 4-28, 1945).
    Expressionism and Related Movements. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 26-February 28, 1939).
    An Exhibition of Water Colors and Oils by Charles Burchfield.. Carnegie Institute.
  • {{cite web|title=Setting Sun through the Catalpas (Late August Sunset)|url=false|author=Charles Burchfield|year=August 27, 1916|access-date=20 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1930.850