Milkweed 1929

Charles Burchfield made this strange and wonderful painting of milkweed, probably in watercolor and gouache, and it feels like you're staring into the depths of a very weird and beautiful dream. I imagine Burchfield out in nature, just staring at the milkweed, trying to understand the shapes and rhythms of nature and the wind. You know, there's this funny pale purple that looks like a ground, or maybe it's the sky, all wavy and strange. And the milkweed pods and leaves and seeds are all these odd blacks and browns and whites. It's like he's trying to capture the essence of the plant. I love the way he's not afraid to be a little bit awkward and push the boundaries of representation. It feels like he's really seeing the world in a way that's totally unique and personal. He reminds me a little bit of Marsden Hartley, another quirky American painter who wasn't afraid to be himself. When I look at this, I feel like Burchfield is whispering, "Hey, look at this! Isn't it amazing?"