As the title states, Vincent Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ is a painting of the night sky. It is the view outside of his hospital room window and was painted during the day from memory. It recaptures the essence of everything Van Gogh was. The distortions of images exemplify his influence as an expressionist. Open to interpretation, its viewers are free to let their imaginations run free and explore the possibilities of the painting. For me, ‘Starry Night’ is an illustration of the balance between man and nature. Van Gogh highlights three features in his painting: the sky, the cypress tree, and the town. Each element plays an essential role and complements the other. Together they create one of Van Gogh’s most popular and intriguing pieces.
As the main focal point of the painting, the sky is full of vibrant colors and texture. Through the use of swirls and curves, Van Gogh embodies the clouds and stars of the sky and creates an illusion of movement. There is fluidity in the sky which makes it appears as if it were alive. Looking at it long enough, you can feel the breeze that’s moving the clouds. The sky is full of depth and the contrast of the bright yellow and dark blue add character. The figures are distorted and exaggerated. The strokes of the brush are like colored strands of angel hair. The moon shines as bright as the sun and the stars are the size of planets.
Contrasting the movement and liveliness of the sky, is the stillness of the cypress tree. Van Gogh, a master of expressionism, adds mystery and darkness to the painting. Its’ isolation adds an eerie feel to the painting. The security and comfort felt when looking at the sky is disrupted. The branches reach out onto the sky, almost like fingertips, polluting it with its darkness. In comparison to the sky, it is rigid and sharp. It cuts the sky like a knife and reminds us that nothing can be completely serene. Even the sky, though out of reach, is not safe.
Below the large sky and the rolling hills is a town. Unlike the sky, the town lacks movement. There is no life. If it were not for the few lights shining in the buildings, the town would appear deserted. Relative to the other features of the painting, the sky is small and appears powerless. The cypress tree casts a shadow over the town, enhancing the feeling of emptiness and isolation.
Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’ captures the essence of expressionism through its distortion of reality and its emotion evoking portrayal. The painting as a whole is mesmerizing. A viewer of any age would be able to enjoy it and write their own story.