Charles Ephraim Burchfield, born on April 9, 1893, in Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio, was an American painter whose passionate watercolors of nature scenes and townscapes established him as a central figure in American art. His work, which spanned over five decades, is celebrated for its romantic and often fantastic depictions of nature, reflecting a unique style that oscillated between realism and fantasy. Burchfield's early life was marked by the death of his father, which led his family to move to Salem, Ohio, when he was five years old. It was in Salem that he spent his formative years, graduating as class valedictorian from high school in 1911. His childhood experiences in the small working-class town, surrounded by nature, would profoundly influence his artistic vision. In 1912, Burchfield began his formal art education at the Cleveland School of Art, where he studied under influential figures such as Henry G. Keller, Frank N. Wilcox, and William J. Eastman. His time at the Cleveland School of Art was pivotal, as it was here that he honed his skills and developed the foundation for his distinctive style. Burchfield graduated in 1916, and his early works, characterized by their fanciful and sentimental nature, were largely completed during this period. After serving in the United States Army during World War I, Burchfield returned to Ohio and took up a position as a wallpaper designer for the M.H. Birge & Sons Company in Buffalo, New York, in 1921. The following year, he married Bertha Kenreich, and together they raised five children. His experiences in Buffalo, with its bustling streets, harbor, and railroad yards, inspired Burchfield to adopt a more realistic artistic style, which he pursued for several years. Burchfield's career took a significant turn in 1929 when he was represented by the Frank K. M. Rehn Galleries in New York City. This allowed him to resign from his job as a designer and devote himself entirely to painting. His works from this period show an optimism and appreciation for American life, and his paintings began to gain national recognition. In 1930, Burchfield's work was the subject of the Museum of Modern Art in New York's first one-person exhibition, which further propelled his career. The 1940s marked another stylistic shift for Burchfield as he returned to the more fantastical elements of his early work. He began to explore transcendental landscapes, stating that an artist must paint "not what he sees in nature, but what is there." To achieve this, he invented symbols that made his work seem more real than the visible world. This period is characterized by his use of vibrant colors and dynamic forms to express the mystical aspects of nature and the changing seasons. Burchfield's artistic achievements were widely recognized during his lifetime. He was included in prestigious national exhibitions and received numerous awards. His work was featured in over 109 museums across the United States and was the subject of major exhibitions at institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Museum of Modern Art. In 1966, Buffalo State College honored Burchfield's contributions to art by opening the Charles Burchfield Center, now known as the Burchfield Penney Art Center. This center promotes the arts in Western New York and holds the largest public collection of Burchfield's works, including his handwritten journals and sketches. Charles Ephraim Burchfield passed away on January 10, 1967, in Gardenville, New York, at the age of 73. His legacy continues to inspire and captivate audiences with his unique vision of the American landscape. His work remains a testament to his profound respect for nature and his ability to capture the spiritual qualities of the world around him.

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