American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists

The work is recorded in the archives of the Burchfield Penney Art Center. We are grateful for the research conducted by Nancy Weekly, Burchfield Scholar, Burchfield Penney Art Center, Buffalo, New York. 

According to Ms. Weekly, two sources suggest Alley Light was painted in October 1915. The first is Charles E. Burchfield’s, Catalogue of 1915 Sketches, September 1 – October 11, 1915, which offers a survey of the artist's records of quick sketches and studies that he made with the intention of using them to create paintings. They are lettered in the alphabetical order in which they were drawn. In this case, F or H made on October 5, 1915, might refer to the present work. A short journal entry from October 9, 1915 suggests another night may have in fact inspired the artist to paint Alley Light. Writing from Cleveland, Ohio, where he was studying at the Cleveland School of Art, Burchfield recalled: “A week of busy work & sketching – Last evening to B –’s. Mrs. W, H-, Duke, Joe, Julia Wenn, & Daniels - A free & easy time –A rainstorm with tearing wind at midnight – Clears & snappy cold air. Dan & I walk home under the swinging lights & dancing shadows –My attempt in my work to attain more realism, has choked up my imagination. But tonight after school coming thru the park in the high wind, I dreamed of walks along remote yellow-lit country roads, on a windy evening. The other evening Dan & I downtown prowling around obscure streets at midnight."