Marcus Chen
The Starry Night, painted in June 1889, is one of Vincent van Gogh's most celebrated works. It is an oil-on-canvas painting depicting the view outside his asylum room window at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, a mental asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum after suffering a mental breakdown and self-mutilating by severing part of his ear. During his year-long stay, he remained highly productive, creating several renowned paintings, including The Starry Night. This painting was created during the day in his ground-floor studio, based on the view from his bedroom window, and is the only nocturne in the series of views from that window. While the painting depicts a real village, the specific viewpoint is imaginary, and the work has been interpreted in various ways, from religious symbolism to representations of Van Gogh's emotional turmoil.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh |
| Year | 1889 |
| Month | June |
| Date | Around 18 June |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 73.7 x 92.1 cm |
| Location | The Museum of Modern Art, New York City |
| Genre | Post-Impressionist |
| Sub-genre | Landscape |
| Subject | View from the east-facing window of van Gogh's asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence |
| Additional elements | Imaginary village, Venus, exaggerated cypress trees, diagonal line depicting the Alpilles mountains |
| Artistic influences | Medieval woodcuts, Eugène Delacroix |
| Interpretations | Religious symbolism, representation of van Gogh's emotional turmoil, personal Gethsemane |
| Technical challenges | Use of contrasting colours, painting en plein air at night |
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What You'll Learn
Van Gogh's mental health and hospitalisation
Vincent van Gogh's mental health issues began in young adulthood, long before the infamous ear incident in December 1888. He frequently reported mental health problems, had difficulties relating to people, and experienced regular depression, manic symptoms, and alcohol misuse. He also neglected his physical health, with poor nutrition and hygiene.
Van Gogh's mental health issues were likely exacerbated by psychosocial factors, including concerns about financial support, his brother's health, and his lack of success as a painter. Despite selling only one painting during his lifetime, Van Gogh was a resilient and passionate man who continued to paint during difficult periods.
In December 1888, after a heated argument, Van Gogh cut off a part, or possibly all, of his left ear. He was admitted to a hospital in Arles, where his condition was diagnosed as "acute mania with generalized delirium". This incident marked the beginning of a period of uncertainty and severe crises. He was visited in hospital by his brother, Theo, and subsequently discharged himself.
Following this incident, Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on May 8, 1889. During his year-long stay, he remained highly productive, creating some of the best-known works of his career, including "The Starry Night", which was painted in his ground-floor studio during the day, based on the view from his bedroom window.
While at the asylum, Van Gogh was able to access a second-story bedroom and a ground-floor studio. He was not allowed to paint in his bedroom but was able to make sketches, which he later used as the basis for his paintings. He produced at least 21 variations of the view from his window, including different times of day and weather conditions.
Van Gogh's mental health issues continued throughout his life, with periods of crises, recovery, and health. He experienced increasingly severe and frequent attacks, during which he was confused and incoherent, and he often stopped working. On July 27, 1890, at the age of 37, Van Gogh died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
While there have been many medical and psychological theories about Van Gogh's mental health, the most likely conclusion is that he suffered from comorbid illnesses, including a probable bipolar mood disorder and traits of a borderline personality disorder.
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The view from his asylum window
The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889, depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, a monastery-turned-asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum on 8 May 1889, following a mental breakdown and an act of self-mutilation in which he severed part of his ear.
During his year-long stay at the asylum, Van Gogh remained highly productive, creating several renowned paintings, including The Starry Night. This painting was executed in his ground-floor studio during the day, based on the view from his bedroom window, which he was not allowed to paint in. He described the view in a letter to his brother, Theo, in May 1889: "Through the iron-barred window, I can see an enclosed square of wheat". In another letter to Theo, dated 9 June, he mentioned working outside for a few days.
Van Gogh's letters reveal his fascination with the night sky and his desire to capture it in his art. He wrote about the colours of the night and the stars, which he observed as appearing in various hues, such as yellow, pink, and green, rather than just white dots on a black backdrop. This interest in nocturnal scenes is reflected in The Starry Night, which is the only nocturne in the series of views from his bedroom window.
The view from Van Gogh's asylum window, as interpreted through his artistic vision, resulted in the creation of The Starry Night. The painting depicts a sweeping view of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, with the addition of an imaginary village. The celestial elements include Venus, which was visible in the sky at the time, and an oversized crescent moon, radiating stars, and swirling clouds. The foreground is dominated by exaggerated cypress trees, with a structured village in the distance, framed by olive trees and the rolling hills of the Alpilles mountains.
The Starry Night is not just a representation of the view from Van Gogh's asylum window but also a reflection of his emotional state and artistic experimentation. The twisting, spiralling lines and the cataclysmic interpretation of the night sky have been interpreted as a manifestation of his inner turmoil and a departure from traditional styles, embracing a more expressive and individualized approach to landscape painting.
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The challenges of painting at night
While it is not true that Vincent van Gogh painted "The Starry Night" in prison, he did paint it during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. He had voluntarily admitted himself following a mental breakdown during which he mutilated his own ear.
Painting at night would have presented several challenges. Firstly, there would have been the issue of lighting. Even with a full moon, the night sky is significantly darker than the daytime sky, and the moonlight would not have been sufficient to illuminate the subject of the painting. This would have been especially true within the confines of the asylum room, where the painting was set. Additionally, the artificial light provided by gas lamps, candles, or lanterns would not have been bright enough to illuminate the painting surface adequately. This would have made it difficult for van Gogh to see the colours accurately and mix them to achieve the desired hues.
Another challenge would have been the limited visibility of the night sky itself. While van Gogh could have observed the sky from his bedroom window, as he did on the morning he viewed the morning star, the view would have been obscured by the darkness and the iron bars on the window. This would have made it difficult to capture the intricate details of the sky, such as the stars' positions, colours, and brightness. Capturing the subtle nuances and gradients of the night sky would have required a careful observation that was challenging to achieve under the limited lighting conditions.
Furthermore, the artistic techniques and materials available at the time may not have been optimal for painting at night. Oil paints, which van Gogh used, dry slowly and can take days or even weeks to fully cure. Working at night would have extended the drying time even further due to the lower temperatures and lack of direct sunlight. This could have affected the blending and layering of colours, as well as the overall completion time of the painting. Additionally, the limited visibility and artificial lighting may have impacted his ability to mix colours accurately and achieve the desired chromatic effects.
Lastly, painting at night would have presented a set of physiological challenges. The human eye is less sensitive to colour in low-light conditions, and the perception of colour can be altered by the lighting sources available. This could have affected van Gogh's ability to distinguish colours accurately and make precise colour choices. Additionally, prolonged periods of working in dim light can cause eye strain and fatigue, potentially impacting his ability to paint for extended periods and affecting the overall progress of the artwork.
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The influence of his letters
It is a common misconception that Van Gogh painted "The Starry Night" while in prison. In fact, the painting was created during his voluntary stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, where he admitted himself following a mental breakdown and an act of self-mutilation.
Van Gogh's letters to his brother, Theo, and his sister, Wil, provide valuable insights into the creation of "The Starry Night" and the artist's state of mind during that time. In his correspondence, Van Gogh described the view from his east-facing asylum room window, which inspired the painting. He wrote about seeing a square of wheat in an enclosure through the iron-barred window and witnessing the sunrise above it in all its glory. This description aligns with the elements depicted in "The Starry Night," including the view of the wheat field and the diagonal line of the low-rolling hills of the Alpilles mountains in the background.
In his letters, Van Gogh also mentioned the celestial elements present in the painting, such as the stars and the planet Venus, which he referred to as the "morning star." He described the sky as having "black spots," akin to those on a map, and expressed his desire to capture the luminescence of the stars. These descriptions suggest that Van Gogh was fascinated by the night sky and the interplay of light and darkness, which is reflected in "The Starry Night."
The letters also reveal Van Gogh's thoughts on the artistic process and his intentions behind the painting. He wrote about his desire to express nature through colour and his unique drawing style, moving away from romanticism or religious ideas. Van Gogh considered "The Starry Night" a study of the starry sky, and he saw the night sky as a distinctive field for his visual imagination. He also mentioned the presence of olive trees in the painting, which he depicted using his newly discovered motifs.
In addition, Van Gogh's letters provide insight into his emotional state and personal interpretations of the painting. He described a sense of impending doom, referring to "an end-of-the-world cataclysm" and "melting aerolites and comets adrift." This apocalyptic vision may reflect his inner turmoil and emotional struggles during his stay at the asylum.
Furthermore, Van Gogh's correspondence with his brother, Theo, reveals their discussions about the painting's style and its potential symbolism. Theo expressed his concern that the search for style might detract from the sentiment of the painting. However, Van Gogh defended his artistic choices, stating his drive to seek a more "manly and more deliberate drawing style."
In conclusion, Van Gogh's letters offer a wealth of information about "The Starry Night," shedding light on its inspiration, artistic process, and personal significance. They provide a glimpse into the artist's thoughts, emotions, and creative vision, enhancing our understanding and appreciation of this iconic painting.
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The painting's religious symbolism
The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889, is an oil-on-canvas work depicting the view from the artist's asylum room window at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting, created during the day, is a dreamy interpretation of the view outside his window just before sunrise. Van Gogh had voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum, a former monastery, following a mental breakdown and an infamous act of self-mutilation.
The painting has been subject to various interpretations, including religious symbolism. Art historian Lauren Soth, for instance, believes the painting is a "traditional religious subject in disguise" and a reflection of Van Gogh's "deepest religious feelings". Soth's theory is based on Van Gogh's admiration for the paintings of Eugène Delacroix, specifically the use of Prussian blue and citron yellow in his depictions of Christ. Soth theorizes that Van Gogh used these colours in The Starry Night to represent Christ.
Some have interpreted the painting as a representation of the biblical story of Joseph's dream in the Old Testament Book of Genesis, where the sun, moon, and eleven stars made obeisance to him. In this interpretation, the moon and the stars symbolize Jesus and his apostles. The swirls in the sky could also represent a personal Gethsemane for Van Gogh, referring to discussions of Christ on the Mount of Olives in his correspondence with Gauguin and Bernard.
Van Gogh himself denied that the painting signalled "a return to romantic or religious ideas", instead stating that it expressed "the purer nature of a countryside compared with the suburbs and cabarets of Paris". However, he did express a religiously inclined longing for the beyond, comparing the spots of light in the sky to the dots on a map, and stating that ""we take death to reach a star". This interpretation is supported by Loevgren, who calls the painting "an infinitely expressive picture which symbolizes the final absorption of the artist by the cosmos".
The cypress tree in the painting has also been interpreted as a symbol of immortality, reaching into the sky and serving as a direct connection between the earth and the heavens. This positive interpretation of the cypress tree is in contrast to the traditional association of cypress trees with death in European culture.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Vincent van Gogh painted 'The Starry Night' in an asylum.
Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum following a mental breakdown and an act of self-mutilation in December 1888.
'The Starry Night' was inspired by the view from Van Gogh's asylum room window at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The painting depicts the view at different times of the day and under various weather conditions.
Van Gogh was not allowed to paint in his bedroom, so he had to rely on his memory or sketches to paint the scene. He was also interested in capturing the night sky, which presented technical challenges such as the use of contrasting colours and painting outdoors at night.
