Isabella Flores
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night is an oil-on-canvas painting measuring 73.7 x 92.1 cm. It has been described as a touchstone of modern art and is one of the most recognisable paintings in the Western canon. The painting was created in June 1889 and has been housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh |
| Year | 1889 |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 73.7 x 92.1 cm |
| Provenance | Museum of Modern Art, New York City |
| Created | June 1889 |
| Location | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence |
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What You'll Learn
The painting's dimensions are 73.7 x 92.1 cm
The dimensions of Van Gogh's Starry Night are 73.7 x 92.1 cm, which is a relatively small size for a painting. To put this into context, the average human hand is around 18 cm across the palm, so the painting would be a little over four palm widths wide and just under five palm lengths tall. This makes it a fairly compact work, especially when compared to some of the larger-scale paintings that were becoming popular around the time it was created.
Despite its small size, the painting has a huge presence and is one of the most well-known and easily recognizable works of art in the world. This is a testament to the power of Van Gogh's style and technique, which manages to convey a sense of vastness and grandeur even within the confines of a relatively small canvas. The intense, swirling brushstrokes and vibrant colors create a sense of movement and energy that draws the viewer in, making the scene feel almost immersive despite the modest dimensions of the work.
The painting's height of 92.1 cm is particularly interesting as it is quite tall for a landscape format. This allows for a more vertical composition, emphasizing the towering presence of the cypress tree and the towering, swirling clouds. The extra height also provides a sense of depth to the village, with the buildings cascading down the hillside. This verticality adds to the sense of drama and emotion that permeates the work.
The width of 73.7 cm is also notable as it is slightly narrower than a typical landscape format, which often adhere to the golden ratio or similar proportional guidelines. This narrower width contributes to the feeling of height and also creates a sense of focus and intensity. It directs the viewer's gaze upwards, towards the vibrant sky, enhancing the sense of awe and wonder evoked by the night sky.
Overall, the dimensions of Starry Night are an integral part of the painting's impact and appeal. They contribute to the composition, emphasis, and emotional power of the work, demonstrating Van Gogh's mastery of his craft and his ability to convey a powerful message through his unique style and approach to painting. These dimensions also make the painting easily displayable, allowing it to be hung in a variety of spaces and thus increasing its accessibility and impact.
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It's an oil-on-canvas painting
The Starry Night, often simply called Starry Night, is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. It is regarded as one of the most recognisable paintings in the Western canon and has been described as a "touchstone of modern art".
The painting measures 73.7 x 92.1 cm and has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941. It was acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest.
Van Gogh created The Starry Night in mid-June 1889, inspired by the view from his bedroom window at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. The former monastery functioned as a mental asylum, where Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself following a mental breakdown and an infamous act of self-mutilation in late December 1888. During his year-long stay, he remained highly productive, also creating Irises and a self-portrait.
The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village. Van Gogh's letters reveal his interest in capturing the vibrant colours of the night sky, noting that stars were not merely white dots on a black background but could appear yellow, pink, or green. The painting's celestial elements include Venus, which was visible in the sky at the time, though the moon’s depiction is not astronomically accurate.
Van Gogh's Starry Night is the only nocturne in the series of views from his bedroom window. It is a testament to his dedication to working from observation, as he was limited to the subjects that surrounded him during his time at the asylum.
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It was painted in June 1889
The Starry Night, often called Starry Night, is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. It was painted in June 1889 and has been described as a "touchstone of modern art". The painting is considered one of the most recognisable paintings in the Western canon.
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. He voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum on 8 May 1889, following a mental breakdown and an infamous act of self-mutilation that occurred in late December 1888. During his year-long stay, he remained highly productive, creating several notable works, including Irises (May 1889) and a self-portrait (September 1889).
The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of Van Gogh's asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise. The view from his bedroom window was a source of inspiration for Van Gogh, who painted variations of this scene no fewer than twenty-one times, including The Starry Night. The painting includes an imaginary village, based on sketches rather than the actual landscape seen from the asylum.
Van Gogh's interest in painting night skies and starry scenes had been developing for some time before he painted The Starry Night. In a letter to his sister in May or June 1889, he wrote about the beauty of the night sky, noting that "the night is even more richly coloured than the day, coloured with the most intense violets, blues and greens". He also mentioned that stars could appear "lemony", "pink", or "green", challenging the notion that they were simply white dots on a black background. In a letter to his brother, Theo, Van Gogh described the view from his asylum window, writing, "Through the iron-barred window, I can see an enclosed square of wheat... above which in the morning I see the sunrise in its glory".
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It's housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night is housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. The painting has been part of the museum's permanent collection since 1941, when it was acquired through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest.
The Starry Night is an oil-on-canvas painting, measuring 73.7 x 92.1 cm. It was created in June 1889, during van Gogh's 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. The painting depicts the view from the artist's east-facing window, with the addition of an imaginary village.
The Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, is a renowned art museum located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was established in 1929 by a group of prominent figures in the art world, including Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Mary Quinn Sullivan, and Lillie P. Bliss. The museum's collection focuses on modern and contemporary art, including painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, design, and film.
MoMA has a rich and diverse collection of artworks, featuring renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, and Jackson Pollock, among others. The museum also organizes special exhibitions, educational programs, and cultural events to engage and inspire its visitors.
The Starry Night is considered one of van Gogh's most celebrated works and is described as a "touchstone of modern art". The painting's iconic status and its presence at the Museum of Modern Art further solidify the museum's position as a leading institution for modern and contemporary art.
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It's inspired by the view from his asylum room window
In May 1889, Vincent van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, seeking treatment for his mental health struggles. During his stay at the asylum, Van Gogh continued to paint, and one of his most renowned works from this period is "The Starry Night." The painting's dimensions are approximately 29 inches by 36 inches (73.7 cm by 92.1 cm), a relatively small canvas that belies the immense emotional and artistic impact of the work.
"The Starry Night" is believed to have been inspired by the view from Van Gogh's asylum room window. From his vantage point, he could observe the surrounding landscape, including the nearby Alpilles mountains, which are thought to be depicted in the painting's foreground. The artist himself wrote about his inspiration for the painting in a letter to his brother, Theo, describing the view from his window at night, with the moon and stars shining brightly and a cypress tree in the foreground.
The painting captures the vibrant, swirling night sky above the peaceful village, with the towering, dark cypress tree creating a sense of contrast and drama. The stars appear as bright, swirling orbs, with the moon casting a soft, glowing light over the landscape. Van Gogh's unique style and bold use of color bring an intense, almost ethereal quality to the scene, reflecting the artist's inner emotions and imagination.
While the painting is rooted in the physical view from his window, Van Gogh took artistic liberties, exaggerating the size of the cypress tree and adding a more imaginative flair to the night sky. The result is a powerful and expressive work of art that transcends the mere representation of a landscape, offering a glimpse into the artist's inner world and his interpretation of the surrounding beauty.
"The Starry Night" has become one of Van Gogh's most iconic and beloved paintings, with its enduring appeal lying not only in its aesthetic beauty but also in the emotional depth and personal story that it conveys. The painting's relatively small size only serves to intensify the impact of its vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes, a testament to Van Gogh's ability to convey immense emotion and power through his art, regardless of the canvas size.
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Frequently asked questions
The Starry Night is 73.7 cm x 92.1 cm.
The painting has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941.
Van Gogh painted Starry Night in June 1889.
Starry Night depicts the view from the east-facing window of Van Gogh's asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting includes an imaginary village and an idealised view of the sky, including Venus and a crescent moon.
Van Gogh was interested in painting night landscapes and believed that the night was more colourful than the day. He wrote to his sister, "it’s clear to paint a starry sky it’s not nearly enough to put white spots on blue-black".
