Lena Rivera
The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889, is one of the most recognisable pieces of art in the world. The oil-on-canvas painting is regarded as a touchstone of modern art and is currently housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. Van Gogh created the painting during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, following a mental breakdown and self-mutilation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 1889 |
| Month | June |
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh |
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Style | Post-Impressionist |
| Subject | View from the artist's asylum room window at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence |
| Location | Museum of Modern Art, New York City |
| Ownership History | Theo van Gogh, Johanna (Jo) van Gogh-Bonger, Émile Schuffenecker, Georgette P. van Stolk, Paul Rosenberg |
| Interpretations | Religious symbolism, emotional turmoil, astronomical discoveries, personal struggles |
| Artistic Techniques | Expressionistic swirls, thick impasto, intense hues |
| Colours | Blue, brown, grey, black, yellow, white |
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What You'll Learn
Van Gogh painted it in June 1889
Vincent van Gogh painted The Starry Night in June 1889. It is an oil-on-canvas painting, and one of his most celebrated works. The painting has been described as a "touchstone of modern art" and is regarded as one of the most recognizable paintings in Western art.
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. He admitted himself to the asylum on May 8, 1889, following a mental breakdown and an infamous act of self-mutilation, in which he severed part of his ear with a razor. Despite his mental health struggles, Van Gogh was allowed certain freedoms during his stay at the asylum. He was permitted to leave the hospital grounds if attended, and he was allowed to paint, read, and withdraw into his room. He even had his own studio.
The Starry Night depicts the view from the artist's east-facing window at the asylum, just before sunrise. It includes an imaginary village, with a structured village sitting in the distance on the lower right of the canvas. Straight, controlled lines make up the small cottages and the slender steeple of a church, which rises against rolling blue hills. The glowing yellow squares of the houses suggest the welcoming lights of peaceful homes. The painting also features Van Gogh's trademark cypress trees, with their dark branches curling and swaying to the movement of the sky.
Van Gogh made several sketches for the painting and worked on it outdoors. In a letter to his brother, Theo, in early June 1889, Van Gogh wrote: "This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big." Researchers have confirmed that the brightest "star" in the painting, to the viewer's right of the cypress tree, is Venus, which was nearly as bright as possible at that time.
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It was painted from memory
The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889, is an oil-on-canvas painting depicting the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. It is considered one of his most celebrated works and has been described as a "touchstone of modern art".
While it is known that Van Gogh preferred working from observation, it is believed that The Starry Night was painted from memory during the day in his ground-floor studio. This is because the painting depicts a view of the countryside just before sunrise, which the artist would have observed from his bedroom window. In a letter to his brother, Theo, Van Gogh wrote:
> "This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big."
The "morning star" mentioned in the letter is believed to be Venus, which was indeed visible at dawn in Provence in the spring of 1889. This celestial body is represented in the painting as the brightest "star" in the sky, located just to the viewer's right of the cypress tree.
Van Gogh's letters also reveal that he made sketches and previous versions of the painting, which he would later use as a basis for newer variations. He described his process in a letter to his sister, Wil, on June 16, 1889, where he mentioned working on two landscapes, one of which was likely The Starry Night.
The painting is the only nocturne in the series of views from his bedroom window, and it is characterized by its expressive style, thick impasto, and intense hues. While Van Gogh himself regarded the painting as a failure, it has since become one of his most famous and recognizable works, with various interpretations ranging from religious symbolism to representations of his emotional turmoil.
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The painting depicts an imaginary village
In 1889, while residing at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, Vincent van Gogh created one of his most renowned and beloved paintings, "The Starry Night." This painting is a vivid and expressive depiction of the view outside his sanitarium window, showcasing a nocturnal scene with a swirling, vibrant sky full of swirling stars and a bright crescent moon. While the village depicted in the painting is often assumed to be a realistic portrayal of the surrounding area, it is important to note that Van Gogh took artistic liberties, and the village is indeed imaginary.
The imaginary village in "The Starry Night" is a product of Van Gogh's creative interpretation of the landscape before him. He painted this artwork from memory during the daytime, adding his unique perspective and emotional response to the scene. The village is situated on a hillside, with a collection of humble buildings, including a church with a steepled roof, nestled among the lush greenery. The structures are bathed in a warm, inviting glow, creating a sense of coziness and tranquility within the peaceful rural setting.
Van Gogh's use of bold, expressive brushstrokes and vivid colors brings the imaginary village to life. The buildings appear to glow from within, their outlines softened and almost shimmering in the nocturnal light. The artist's distinctive style, marked by short, dynamic brushwork and intense hues, adds a sense of movement and emotion to the otherwise tranquil scene. This juxtaposition of calm and vigor reflects the complex emotions Van Gogh was experiencing during his time at the asylum.
The imaginary village serves as a symbolic representation of Van Gogh's inner world and his perception of the surrounding landscape. It is a place of refuge and serenity, a peaceful haven amidst the turmoil of his mental health struggles. By idealizing the village and infusing it with a sense of warmth and tranquility, Van Gogh invites the viewer to share in his vision of a harmonious and idyllic world. The glowing buildings and vibrant sky create a sense of otherworldliness, suggesting that this village exists not only as a physical place but also as a manifestation of the artist's dreams and imagination.
The painting's composition also contributes to the sense of fantasy and imagination. The village is positioned at an angle, with the steeple of the church pointing towards the swirling sky, creating a sense of movement and directing the viewer's eye upwards. The path leading into the village invites viewers on a journey into this imaginary world, encouraging them to explore the peaceful haven that Van Gogh has created. The combination of the vibrant sky and the idyllic village scene captures the beauty and emotion that Van Gogh saw and felt, even in the simplicity of a rural landscape.
Through his imaginative depiction of an ordinary village, Van Gogh showcases his unique ability to find beauty and emotion in the everyday world and transform it into something extraordinary. "The Starry Night" serves as a testament to the power of artistic interpretation and a reminder that sometimes, the most profound truths can be found in the realms of imagination. This iconic painting continues to captivate audiences worldwide, inviting them to escape into Van Gogh's imaginary village and experience the world through his eyes.
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The work is regarded as a failure
The Starry Night, painted by Vincent van Gogh in June 1889, is regarded as a failure by the artist himself. 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. It is one of the most recognizable paintings in the Western canon and is considered a "touchstone of modern art". However, van Gogh was critical of his own work, referring to it as a "failure" in letters to his brother, Theo, and to fellow painter Émile Bernard.
Van Gogh's dissatisfaction with the painting may have stemmed from his struggle between painting from nature, which he preferred, and abstract or imaginative painting, which he was ambivalent about. In a letter to his brother, he expressed his frustration with the limitations of his subject matter while residing in the asylum: "Why, I say to myself, should the spots of light in the firmament be less accessible to us than the black spots on the map of France?" He also wrote about his desire to capture the expressive night sky, noting that stars were more than simple white dots on black, appearing in various colours.
The artist's ambivalence towards working from his imagination may have contributed to his perception of the painting as a failure. Van Gogh described the painting as a ""night study"" and included it in a list of paintings he considered less successful. He wrote, "All in all, the only things I consider a little good in it are the Wheatfield, the Mountain, the Orchard, the Olive trees with the blue hills and the Portrait and the Entrance to the quarry, and the rest says nothing to me." The Starry Night was one of the paintings he chose to withhold from sending to his brother due to postage costs.
In addition to his own criticisms, van Gogh also faced criticism from his brother, Theo, who indicated that the painting favoured style over substance. This may have further reinforced van Gogh's view of the work as a failure. Furthermore, van Gogh's struggles with mental illness and his act of self-mutilation, which led to his admission to the asylum, may have influenced his perception of his work. The painting's expressionistic swirls and intense hues, created by applying paint directly from the tube, could be seen as a reflection of his emotional turmoil.
Despite van Gogh's own criticisms, The Starry Night has become one of his most famous and recognised works, challenging conventional notions of success and failure in art. The painting's unique style and its ability to capture the intangible cosmic drama of the stars, along with the elemental power of the natural scene, have contributed to its enduring fascination and recognition.
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It's one of Van Gogh's most famous works
"Starry Night" is the name of a painting created by the Dutch Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh in June 1889. It is one of Van Gogh's most famous works, recognised and celebrated around the world.
The painting depicts the view from the east-facing window of Van Gogh's asylum room at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Van Gogh voluntarily admitted himself to the asylum in May 1889, following a mental breakdown and an infamous act of self-mutilation in which he severed part of his own ear with a razor. The painting is an oil-on-canvas work, employing the expressive style Van Gogh had developed during his stay in Paris in 1886–1888. He applied the paint directly from the tube, creating thick impasto and intense hues.
"Starry Night" is regarded as a "touchstone of modern art" and is considered one of the most recognisable paintings in the Western canon. It is known for its expressive style, with swirling lines and bold colours that capture the artist's turbulent state of mind. The painting is also notable for its imaginative elements, as Van Gogh typically worked from observation. The work is rich in symbolism, with interpretations ranging from religious motifs to representations of Van Gogh's emotional turmoil.
The painting has been widely reproduced and referenced in popular culture, appearing on various merchandise and becoming ingrained in popular consciousness. Its fame and universal appeal have made "Starry Night" one of Van Gogh's most beloved and celebrated works, attracting attention from art enthusiasts and the general public alike.
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Frequently asked questions
Vincent van Gogh painted 'Starry Night' in 1889.
Van Gogh painted 'Starry Night' during his stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.
'Starry Night' was inspired by the view from the artist's asylum room window at night. Van Gogh painted the view from his east-facing window 21 times, but 'Starry Night' is the only nocturnal study of the view.
'Starry Night' depicts the view outside the artist's asylum room window, including an imaginary village. The painting also features swirling stars and a bright morning star, which researchers have determined to be Venus.
