Burchfield, Charles Ephraim (American, 1893-1967) 1 American artists

The composition presents a nocturnal urban scene rendered in watercolor and ink. A flooded street dominates the foreground, its surface acting as a mirror reflecting the buildings lining it. The palette is subdued, primarily utilizing ochre, brown, and muted greens, with touches of yellow highlighting architectural details. A pervasive sense of stillness hangs over the view, amplified by the lack of distinct light sources beyond the ambient glow emanating from within the structures.
Here we see three buildings prominently displayed; their facades are characterized by a somewhat stylized, almost theatrical quality. The central building possesses an elaborate roofline, while the flanking structures exhibit symmetrical window arrangements. These architectural elements appear slightly distorted and elongated, contributing to a dreamlike or hallucinatory atmosphere.
Two figures are present within the scene: one walks along the flooded street on the left side of the composition, while another is partially visible near the central building. Their small scale in relation to the buildings emphasizes their vulnerability and isolation within this environment. The presence of telegraph poles punctuates the sky, adding a sense of industrial intrusion into the otherwise melancholic landscape.
The water’s reflective surface creates an unsettling doubling effect, blurring the distinction between reality and its mirrored counterpart. This visual ambiguity suggests a psychological depth; it implies that what is seen may not be entirely as it appears. The overall impression is one of quiet unease, evoking feelings of loneliness, introspection, and perhaps even a subtle sense of foreboding.
The artist’s use of loose brushstrokes and washes contributes to the paintings ethereal quality. It avoids sharp definition, instead favoring an atmospheric rendering that prioritizes mood over precise representation. The dark borders surrounding the image further isolate the scene, intensifying its introspective nature and suggesting a world viewed from a distance – a world both familiar and strangely alien.