Elena Rossi
The Starry Night, often simply called Starry Night, is an oil-on-canvas painting by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh, created in June 1889. It is regarded as one of the most recognizable paintings in the Western canon and is considered Van Gogh's magnum opus. The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village. Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, during which he produced some of the best-known works of his career.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | June 1889 |
| Location | Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France |
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Genre | Post-Impressionism |
| Subject | Night sky and village |
| Inspiration | View from the artist's asylum room window |
| Current location | Museum of Modern Art, New York City |
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What You'll Learn
Van Gogh's time in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on 8 May 1889, after suffering a severe mental health crisis in which he cut off his earlobe. He had spent the previous year living in Arles, but after receiving treatment at a local mental hospital and facing a petition from Arles citizens asking him to leave, he voluntarily admitted himself to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence.
During his year-long stay, Van Gogh experienced a highly productive period as an artist, creating almost 150 paintings and numerous drawings. He had access to a second-story bedroom and a ground-floor studio, and he produced some of the best-known works of his career, including 'Irises' (May 1889), now at the J. Paul Getty Museum, and a blue self-portrait (September 1889) at the Musée d'Orsay.
One of his most famous paintings, 'The Starry Night', was also created during this time, in mid-June 1889. The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village. In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh described the painting as "a new study of a starry sky".
The hospital where Van Gogh stayed, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, still stands today and includes a museum dedicated to the artist's time there. Visitors can explore Van Gogh's Field, where they can view large-scale reproductions of his most famous paintings in the very places they were created. The nearby Estrine Museum also offers a multimedia educational space and a short film about Van Gogh's life and work.
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence continues to attract artists and has been home to famous painters such as Yves Brayer and Albert Gleizes. Visitors can follow in Van Gogh's footsteps through guided tours, exploring the landscapes and nature that inspired his art, including the Alpilles mountains.
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The painting's celestial elements
The Starry Night, painted in June 1889, is one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous works. It depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise. The painting's celestial elements include the planet Venus, which was visible in the sky at the time, and a crescent moon, which is not astronomically accurate. The bright aureole around the crescent moon suggests that Van Gogh may have originally intended to paint a gibbous moon but changed his mind. The cypress trees in the foreground are also exaggerated in scale compared to other works.
The village in the painting is an imaginary addition, based on sketches rather than the actual landscape seen from the asylum. This combination of real and imagined elements adds to the sense of the painting as a window into Van Gogh's inner world, a world filled with anxieties and dreams swirling on the canvas. The celestial elements of the painting, with their vibrant, swirling colours, represent the artist's profound connection to the universe and his unique way of perceiving reality.
The stars in the painting are depicted as swirling orbs, almost like miniature galaxies themselves. These "starry swirls" are not merely decorative; they represent the celestial energy and dynamism that Van Gogh found so awe-inspiring. The peaceful village nestled beneath the starry sky suggests a sense of order and community, while the chaotic energy of the sky and the ominous presence of the cypress tree create a sense of unease. This duality reflects the constant struggle between order and chaos, peace and anxiety, that Van Gogh experienced throughout his life.
The night sky in The Starry Night is more than just a pretty picture; it is a swirling vortex of emotion, a testament to the artist's inner turmoil. The unnatural colours of the sky, with its swirling blues and greens, represent Van Gogh's intense emotions and his unique perspective. The celestial elements of the painting, with their dynamic energy and movement, are a powerful expression of the artist's inner world and his profound connection to the universe.
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The painting's turbulent and calm elements
Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night, painted in June 1889, is a profound expression of the artist's inner turmoil and emotional intensity. The painting, created during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, captures a blend of beauty, chaos, and introspection that continues to resonate with viewers.
The turbulent and calm elements in The Starry Night are evident in the juxtaposition of chaos and calm, life and death. The swirling sky, with its dynamic, swirling patterns, represents a restless energy that contrasts with the serene village below. The peaceful village, with its imaginary viewpoint, represents a yearning for tranquility. The cypress tree, often interpreted as a symbol of death and eternal life, stands tall, bridging the heavens and the earth.
The bold, contrasting colors and expressive brushstrokes create a sense of movement and emotion, drawing viewers into the painting's turbulent world. The dominance of yellow in the painting, along with the use of white, creates a spiral effect that draws attention to the sky. The dark blues and greens are complemented by touches of mint green, showing the reflection of the moon. The buildings in the centre are depicted with blocks of yellows, oranges, greens, and a dash of red.
The celestial elements in the painting include Venus, which was visible in the sky at the time, and the moon, whose depiction is not astronomically accurate. The cypress trees in the foreground are exaggerated in scale compared to other works, with Van Gogh viewing them primarily in aesthetic rather than symbolic terms. The village in the painting is an imaginary addition, based on sketches rather than the actual landscape seen from the asylum.
The turbulent and calm elements in The Starry Night reflect Van Gogh's emotional struggles and his quest for peace and meaning. The painting evokes a range of emotions, from awe and wonder to agitation and melancholy. It is a testament to the emotional depth and complexity of the human experience, allowing viewers to embrace the beauty and chaos of the artwork.
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Van Gogh's state of mind
The Starry Night was painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889. It is an oil-on-canvas painting that depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise, with the addition of an imaginary village. The painting has been described as a "touchstone of modern art" and is considered one of the most recognizable paintings in the Western canon.
At the time he painted The Starry Night, van Gogh was in a state of heightened reality, having suffered a mental breakdown and infamously mutilating himself in late December 1888. He voluntarily admitted himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum, a former monastery that functioned as a mental asylum catering to wealthy patients, on May 8, 1889. During his year-long stay, he remained highly productive, creating several well-known works, including Irises from May 1889 and a blue self-portrait from September 1889.
The painting is one of the nocturnes he initiated in Arles, with the first painting in the series being Café Terrace at Night, painted in early September 1888. Van Gogh's written statements provide insight into his intentions for painting night studies and The Starry Night specifically. In a letter to his brother, Theo, he wrote about his new study of the "starry sky" and his desire to express more of nature and the country through colour and an individual drawing style.
Van Gogh's treatment of his motifs in The Starry Night, such as the cypress trees and olive trees, prompts associations with fire, mist, and the sea. The natural scene combines with the intangible cosmic drama of the stars, creating a sense of the eternal natural universe cradling the human settlement idyllically yet menacingly. Interpretations of the painting range from religious symbolism to representations of van Gogh's emotional state, with some claiming it expresses a personal Gethsemane, referring to his discussions of Christ on the Mount of Olives in his correspondence with Gauguin and Bernard.
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The painting's ownership history
"The Starry Night" was painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889. It is an oil-on-canvas painting that depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, just before sunrise. The painting includes an imaginary village, based on sketches, rather than the actual landscape seen from the asylum.
June–September 1889
The painting remained with Vincent van Gogh in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence until September 1889.
September 1889–January 1891
The ownership of "The Starry Night" was then transferred to Vincent's brother, Theo van Gogh, in Paris.
January 1891–December 1900
After Theo's death in 1891, the painting was inherited by his wife, Johanna (Jo) van Gogh-Bonger, in Amsterdam. She held it in trust for her son, Vincent Willem van Gogh.
December 1900–1941
There is a gap in the record of ownership between December 1900 and 1941, when "The Starry Night" was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City through the Lillie P. Bliss Bequest.
Since 1941, "The Starry Night" has been in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. It is considered a "touchstone of modern art" and one of the most recognizable paintings in Western art history.
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Frequently asked questions
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night in June 1889.
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.
The Starry Night was inspired by the view from Van Gogh's bedroom window at the asylum, depicting the view just before sunrise with the addition of an imaginary village.
