Starry Night

Van Gogh painted Starry Night in 1889 while in Rémy, France. The oil on canvas now hangs in the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). A post-impressionist, Van Gogh is easily identified because of his thick and visible brush strokes that are part of what sets Starry Night apart from other paintings. The night is not calm or peaceful, but appears to be somewhat tumultuous. The swirling skies are filled with luminescent stars and a large crescent moon that sheds a thin sheet of light over the town below. The town's most central building is identified as a church because of the spire that reaches up into the night sky, but is somewhat blocked out by the billowing cyprus trees that stand on the left side of the painting.

At the time during which it was painted, Van Gogh was suffering from depression and was in a psychiatric ward. He was concerned with the importance of life in death, which is why many believe that cyprus trees were made noticeable part of the painting--cyprus trees are often found in cemeteries. The combination of the death-related vegetation and the vision of a town at night rather than the day indicates Van Gogh's internal struggles. The painting is not joyous, but rather contemplative. While landscapes are oftentimes a simple portrayal of the natural world, there is another dimension to Starry Night. It is much more psychological than the typical landscape.

Van Gogh's Starry Night is one of the most renowned works the world over and a personal favorite. Its highly saturated colors combined with the obvious brush strokes from impressionism make for a stunning piece. There is something about the piece that is very ethereal that stems from the swirling night skies,yet the ethereal skies are paired with navies and blues that create a darkness over the town below. The work is both aesthetically pleasing and innovative.