Shop art print and framed art Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

The fascinating story of Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

The Starry Night is one of the most famous and beloved works by the Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent Van Gogh. This iconic canvas, painted in 1889, depicts a nightscape dotted with twinkling stars and expressive swirls.

Historical background to the creation of Starry Night

In May 1889, Vincent Van Gogh voluntarily committed himself to the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, after a series of psychological crises and mental disorders. During his stay there, he was extremely productive artistically, producing over 150 works, including the famous Starry Night.

This period of Van Gogh's life was marked by his fascination with night and nocturnal landscapes. He considered the night to be more alive and richer in colour than the day. In a letter to his sister Wilhelmina, he described his vision as follows: "There are often pieces of blue in the sky on starry nights, of a deep and intense blue, a hard blue, a lacquered and brilliant blue."

Artistic influences on Starry Night

The making of Starry Night was influenced by several elements that marked the life and career of Vincent Van Gogh.

Romanticism and admiration for Eugène Delacroix

Van Gogh was a great admirer of the French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix. In his letters to his brother Theo, he expressed his admiration for Delacroix's works and their passionate nature. Starry Night shows a certain Romantic influence in its dramatic and expressive composition.

Japanese art and ukiyo-e prints

Like many painters of his time, Van Gogh was deeply inspired by Japanese art, and ukiyo-e prints in particular. He collected these prints and considered them a major source of inspiration for his own artistic creation. The undulating forms and swirling movement of the clouds and stars in Starry Night reflect this interest in Japanese aesthetics.

Analysis of the composition of Starry Night

The Starry Night is a complex work rich in symbolism. Its analysis sheds light on the main characteristics of this emblematic work.

Natural elements and their representation

In this painting, Van Gogh depicts natural elements in a way that is both realistic and fantastical. The night sky is dotted with twinkling stars and planets, some of which are larger than in reality. The swirls surrounding these stars evoke a dreamlike, poetic atmosphere.

The terrestrial landscape, meanwhile, is dominated by a solitary cypress, a tree often associated with cemeteries and therefore with death. For Van Gogh, the cypress was also a symbol of immortality and eternal life.

Bright, contrasting colours

Starry Night is characterised by the use of bright, contrasting colours. The deep blue of the sky is enhanced by the yellow and green accents of the stars, while the earthly landscape features shades of green, ochre and brown. This colour palette allows Van Gogh to express all the beauty and magic of the night sky.

Posterity and influence of Starry Night

The Starry Night is today considered one of Vincent Van Gogh's major works and occupies an important place in the history of modern art. It continues to influence and inspire many contemporary artists.

Tributes in literature and music

This work has also inspired many authors and musicians. Among the most famous examples are the poem "Vincent" by Robert Hayden and the song "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)" by Don McLean.

The Starry Starry Night remains a source of wonder and a poignant testament to the creative genius of Vincent Van Gogh, whose legacy continues to fascinate and move audiences around the world.

This artwork is a painting from the modern period. It belongs to the post-impressionism style.

« Starry Night » is kept at Musée d'Art Moderne MoMA, New York, USA.

Find the full description of Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh on Wikipedia.