“The Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh is arguably one of his most famous works. It is currently on exhibition at the MOMA. Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch painter and is known as one of the most famous post-impressionist painters today. Van Gogh led a troubled life, he was in and out of asylums and battled with mental illness, which eventually led to him committing suicide at the age of 37.
Starry Night was painted during Van Gogh’s stay at the asylum, in June of 1889, it is a depiction of the view from the east-facing bedroom window. Starry Night was among many works he painted depicting the view, but it is the most widely recognized. It depicts the view of the village under the night sky. The striking blue and yellow sky and the highly stylized cypress tree in the foreground are some of the most prominent parts of the composition. Beneath the vibrant night sky sits the silent and dark village, nestled between the mountains.
This work depicts the notion of modernism as it juxtaposes the liveliness of the night sky to the brooding nature of the village beneath. The night sky represents Van Gogh’s imagination and the village, his reality. The swirling nature of the clouds adds a whimsical element to the work, which adds to the notion that the sky represents his dreams and imagination. Van Gogh was going through a rough period while working on The Starry Night. The drastic juxtaposition between the sky and village could represent the reality of society and how hoped society would perceive him.
I was first introduced to “The Starry Night” years ago when I saw the Vincent Van Gogh Doctor Who episode in 2010. From the moment I saw the painting I have been captivated by it. I was drawn to the whimsical feeling that it evoked in me. I saw the painting in person for the first time early last year for my ART 1012 class here at Baruch. I’ve seen the painting multiple times since then, but every time I see it I am always astonished by it.
Ishita, I wish that you had shared a photograph of the painting here, as the assignment asked for. As you know, this is one of Van Gogh’s most famous works. I wish you had thought a bit more about how Van Gogh’s technique and subject matter reflect the ideas of modernism. I’m curious about your description of the painting as “whimsical.” What do you mean by that? Where do you see whimsy in this work?
P.S. You did not provide any documentation of a trip to the museum.