descriptive essay on a starry night

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AP®︎/College Art History

Course: ap®︎/college art history   >   unit 6.

• Courbet, The Stonebreakers
• Early Photography: Niépce, Talbot and Muybridge
• Manet, Olympia
• Painting modern life: Monet's Gare Saint-Lazare
• Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare
• Velasco, The Valley of Mexico
• Rodin, The Burghers of Calais

Van Gogh, The Starry Night

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• Claes Oldenburg, Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks
• Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty
• Robert Venturi, House in New Castle County, Delaware
• Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horn Players

A rare night landscape

Technical challenges, the colors of the night sky.

It often seems to me that the night is even more richly colored than the day, colored with the most intense violets, blues and greens. If you look carefully, you’ll see that some stars are lemony, others have a pink, green, forget-me-not blue glow. And without labouring the point, it’s clear to paint a starry sky it’s not nearly enough to put white spots on blue-black.(678, 14 September 1888)

Invention, remembrance and observation

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Description

• Who was Vincent van Gogh?

The Starry Night

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• Table Of Contents

The Starry Night , a moderately abstract landscape painting (1889) of an expressive night sky over a small hillside village, one of Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh ’s most celebrated works.

The oil-on-canvas painting is dominated by a night sky roiling with chromatic blue swirls, a glowing yellow crescent moon, and stars rendered as radiating orbs. One or two cypress trees, often described as flame-like, tower over the foreground to the left, their dark branches curling and swaying to the movement of the sky that they partly obscure. Amid all this animation, a structured village sits 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 as a beacon against rolling blue hills. The glowing yellow squares of the houses suggest the welcoming lights of peaceful homes, creating a calm corner amid the painting’s turbulence.

Van Gogh painted The Starry Night during his 12-month stay at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, several months after suffering a breakdown in which he severed a part of his own ear with a razor. While at the asylum, he painted during bursts of productivity that alternated with moods of despair. As an artist who preferred working from observation, van Gogh was limited to the subjects that surrounded him—his own likeness, views outside his studio window, and the surrounding countryside that he could visit with a chaperone.

Although van Gogh’s subjects were restricted, his style was not. He experimented with the depiction of various weather conditions and changing light, often painting the wheat fields nearby under a bright summer sun or dark storm clouds. Van Gogh was also particularly preoccupied by the challenges of painting a night landscape and wrote about it not only to his brother, Theo , but to a fellow painter, Émile Bernard , and to his sister, Willemien. In a letter addressed to the latter, he alleged that night was more colourful than day and that stars were more than simple white dots on black, instead appearing yellow, pink, or green. By the time van Gogh arrived at Saint-Rémy, he had already painted a few night scenes, including Starry Night (Rhône) (1888). In that work, stars appear in bursts of yellow against a blue-black sky and compete with both the glowing gas lamps below and their reflection in the Rhône River .

At the asylum, van Gogh observed the night sky from his barred bedroom window and wrote a letter to Theo describing a magnificent view of the morning star very early one morning in the summer of 1889. Because he was not allowed to paint in his bedroom, he painted the scene from memory or possibly drawings and used his imagination for the small village that did not actually exist. Employing the expressive style he had developed during his stay in Paris in 1886–88, he applied the paint directly from the tube onto the canvas, creating thick impasto and intense hues. Ambivalent about working from his imagination, van Gogh eventually regarded the finished Starry Night as a failure, and Theo frankly indicated that the painting favoured style over substance.

The painting was one of van Gogh’s late works, as he committed suicide the following year. His artistic career was brief, comprising only 10 years, but it was very productive. He left more than 800 paintings and 700 to 850 drawings to his brother. When the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City purchased The Starry Night from a private collector in 1941, it was not well known, but it has since become one of van Gogh’s most famous, if not one of the most recognized, works in the art history canon.

Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis

Introduction, formal analysis, contextualization.

One of the most prominent paintings of Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night – is currently exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The piece of art was created in 1889 and is still one of the most glorious paintings of van Gogh. The Starry Night expresses the unique style of the most celebrated Dutch artist. The picture, which is a figment of the artist’s imagination, was painted in Saint-Remy, France. This paper will present a formal analysis, contextualization of the artwork, and opinion of the author on the unique features and the meaning of the painting.

One might say that the colors of the painting make The Starry Night stand out. The stars seem genuinely bottomless, the Crescent moon gives the impression of the sun, cypresses are more like flames, and spiral curls pull the viewer into the abyss. The vigor of the artwork is focused on the uniform and continuous motion of the sky. The illusion of flickering elements is created by a mix of white and yellow colors that contrast each other on the canvas. One might say that the painting can draw the attention of any viewer.

Looking at the picture, the viewer sees a night landscape. A significant part of the canvas is occupied by the sky, the stars, and the moon, which are depicted mainly on the right side. To the right in the foreground, trees are located, and to the left, below is a town or village hidden in the trees. In the background, there are dark hills on the horizon line. Heavy thick strokes create the rich texture of the painting. The value of the art lies in a specific oily technique of strokes that van Gogh used. One can state that the picture belongs to the genre of landscape.

The composition of The Starry Night is balanced with diagonal lines – on the right side, there are trees at the bottom, and on the left side, there is a bright yellow moon at the top. The sky prevails over the earth; this proportion shows that the upper part prevails over the lower. All shapes and elements are expressed by color and rounded strokes. However, in the lower part of the painting, where there are the town, trees, and hills, the distinction among them is used by separate linear dark forms.

Deep space is created in the painting due to the color scheme, the composition of the movement and strokes. The depiction of color was of paramount importance to van Gogh. Once, he wrote that he was “very sensitive to color and its particular language, its effects of complementarity, contrasts, harmony” (van Gogh). The volume of objects is hidden by broad strokes; and individual contour strokes only outline the size of the objects.

All parts of The Starry Night are subject to a single idea and do not have autonomy. This unity is expressed in the composition and dynamics, because some objects (houses, trees) are visible, and many of them overlap each other (trees, field houses). The scale of the objects is also changed (the stars and the moon are hypertrophied). A distinctive feature of the painting is the dynamism, which conveys the emotional experiences of the artist. The Starry Night draws a viewer into the mystery of the sky and the night.

Vincent van Gogh painted the picture at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole lunatic asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence in 1889. The Starry Night was drawn based on “van Gogh’s direct observations as well as his imagination, memories, and emotions” (Stanska). Van Gogh painted the artwork during a period of his remission. It was a time when he asked asylum keepers to move back to his studio in Arles. But residents of the city signed a petition demanding to expel the artist from the city. Despite the intense desire, Van Gogh had never returned to Arles.

The creation of the picture, according to researchers, was influenced by the legend of Joseph from the Old Testament (Schapiro, p. 100). The historian Meyer Schapiro claimed that The Starry Night might be a “visionary [painting] inspired by a religious mood” (p. 100). The spiritual narrative of the eleven stars might be found in The Starry Night . Two vortices occupy the center of the painting: one is large, the other is small. Vortices are depicted as a direct conflict of unequal competitors, senior and junior. Behind this duel, it is possible to see friendly, but competitive relations with Paul Gauguin, or with van Gogh’s brother, Theo, with whom van Gogh had a close relationship. The picture has everything except the sun, but a viewer does not know, who was van Gogh’s sun: brother, father, or another person. It might be suggested that van Gogh, who was heavily dependent on his younger brother, wanted him to be subordinated.

One might state that the cypress, whose flames are directed upwards, is an unconscious symbol of what van Gogh would like to aspire to. He wanted to feel a connection with space, with the abyss that feeds his creativity, but, at the same time, not to lose touch with the earth. In reality, van Gogh had no such roots, because he lost them during his life.

The Starry Night seems to be painted by a child, not a famous artist, because of its extraterrestrial nature, depicting a spaceship or a rocket in the sky. These colorful and extraordinary features make this painting exceptional and perfect. One might wonder, what are the special features depicted in this picture that force millions of viewers search for a solution? Perhaps, a single answer to this question will not be found. Nevertheless, The Starry Night might not leave indifferent any person who has seen its reproduction at least once.

Schapiro, Meyer. Vincent van Gogh. Harry N. Abrams, 1950.

Stanska, Zuzanna. “ Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (Painting Of The Week) .” DailyArt Magazine , 2016.

Van Gogh, Vincent. Letter to Willemien van Gogh . 1890.

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StudyCorgi. (2021, December 31). Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis. https://studycorgi.com/van-goghs-starry-night-analysis/

"Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis." StudyCorgi , 31 Dec. 2021, studycorgi.com/van-goghs-starry-night-analysis/.

StudyCorgi . (2021) 'Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis'. 31 December.

1. StudyCorgi . "Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis." December 31, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/van-goghs-starry-night-analysis/.

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StudyCorgi . "Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis." December 31, 2021. https://studycorgi.com/van-goghs-starry-night-analysis/.

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Vincent van Gogh

• Style and Technique
• Critical Reception
• Bedroom in Arles
• Café Terrace at Night
• Portrait d'Eugene Boch
• Self-portrait with Straw Hat
• Story-Theme

Starry Night

• Starry Night Over the Rhone
• The Flowering Orchard
• The Potato Eaters

Starry Night Analysis

• Date of Creation:
• Height (cm):
• Length (cm):
• Characteristics:
• Post-impressionism
• Art Movement:
• Post-Impressionism
• Created by:
• Current Location:
• New York, New York
• Museum of Modern Art
• Starry Night Analysis Page's Content
• Composition
• Use of color
• Use of Light
• Mood, Tone and Emotion
• Brushstroke

Starry Night Composition

The night sky depicted by van Gogh in the Starry Night painting is brimming with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The setting is one that viewers can relate to and van Gogh´s swirling sky directs the viewer´s eye around the painting, with spacing between the stars and the curving contours creating a dot-to-dot effect. These internal elements ensure fluidity and such contours were important for the artist even though they were becoming less significant for other Impressionists. Thus Starry Night´s composition was distinct from the Impressionist technique of the 19th century. The artist was aware that his Starry Night composition was somewhat surreal and stylized and in a letter to his brother he even referred to "exaggerations in terms of composition. " The vivid style chosen by van Gogh was unusual - he chose lines to portray this night scene when silhouettes would have been a more obvious choice. In Starry Night contoured forms are a means of expression and they are used to convey emotion. Many feel that van Gogh´s turbulent quest to overcome his illness is reflected in the dimness of the night sky. The village is painted with dark colors but the brightly lit windows create a sense of comfort. The village is peaceful in comparison to the dramatic night sky and the silence of the night can almost be felt in Starry Night. The steeple dominates the village and symbolizes unity in the town. In terms of composition, the church steeple gives an impression of size and isolation. In the left foreground is a curvy cypress tree which is typically associated with mourning. It is painted in the same way as the sky with fluid lines which enhances the flow of the Starry Night painting well as its easiness on the eye.

Starry Night Use of color

Van Gogh´s choice of color in Starry Night has been much debated, particularly the dominance of yellow in this and other late works. Some believe van Gogh may have been suffering from lead poisoning or a type of brain disease and that this explains his strange use of color in later paintings. Van Gogh's use of white and yellow creates a spiral effect and draws attention to the sky. Vertical lines such as the cypress tree and church tower softly break up the composition without retracting from the powerful night sky depicted in Starry Night. Vincent van Gogh´s choice of dark blues and greens were complemented with touches of mint green showing the reflection of the moon. The buildings in the centre of the painting are small blocks of yellows, oranges, and greens with a dash of red to the left of the church. The dominance of blue in Starry Night is balanced by the orange of the night sky elements. Van Gogh paints the rich colors of the night and this corresponds with the true character of this Starry Night, whereby colors are used to suggest emotion.

Starry Night Use of Light

Van Gogh´s passion for nighttime is evident in the Starry Night painting, where the powerful sky sits above the quiet town. It seems that van Gogh is contrasting life and death with luminous stars and a gloomy, peaceful village. The main light sources are the bright stars and crescent moon.

Starry Night Mood, Tone and Emotion

There are various interpretations of Starry Night and one is that this canvas depicts hope. It seems that van Gogh was showing that even with a dark night such as this it is still possible to see light in the windows of the houses. Furthermore, with shining stars filling the sky, there is always light to guide you. It seems that van Gogh was finally being cured of his illness and had essentially found his heaven. He also knew that in death he would be at peace and further portrays this by using bold colors in the Starry Night painting. In a letter to his brother, Theo, van Gogh comments: "I should not be surprised if you liked the Starry Night and the Ploughed Fields, there is a greater quiet about them than in the other canvases. " Later in the letter he makes reference to Leo Tolstoys book My Religion and its lack of belief in resurrection. Such fleeting mentions of religion echoed van Goghs feelings towards the subject at this time; he could neither forget it nor totally accept it. Despite this, his use of the word 'quiet' and reference to Tolstoys book indicates that the night sky made him feel calm and brought to mind eternity. Starry Night shows the vast power of nature and the church spire and cypress tree - representing man and nature - both point to the heavens.

Starry Night Brushstroke

In Starry Night van Gogh´s unique, thick brush strokes are very much obvious and it´s possible that his severe attacks further dramatized his brush work. However, there is a consistency to his technique that adds even more depth as well as a rich texture to this work of art.

The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh Essay (Critical Writing)

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Description

Interpretation.

This recognized painting titled “Starry Night” by the infamous Vincent van Gogh was created near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in 1889 while the author stayed at the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. The masterpiece depicts the view from the window in his asylum room with the addition of an imaginary village. Since 1941, the piece of art has been owned by the Modern Museum of Art in New York City. This picture is a perfect representation of Van Gogh’s distinctive style and creates a strange but breathtaking impression.

The artwork provides an uneasy feeling as if it has been painted with the mental struggle of the author. The first element of the composition that captures attention is the great blurry sky that takes one-third of the canvas. The sky emphasizes a bright crescent moon in the top right corner, which creates a powerful balance and, at the same time, contrast with the giant black fire on the opposite side. Another contrast may be seen in the color dynamics of the whirling sky that provide the sense of surreal harmony compared to the dull mixed colors of the imaginary village.

The artwork seems to be filled with uneasy emotions and even paranoia of the author. The emphasis on the big bright sky may represent Van Gogh’s desire to fly away from his reality and embrace the light of the starry night. However, the enormous dark fire, which plays the role of some dark force in his painting, rises almost to the top of the picture. It may be described as if the dark creation of reality tries to cover the beloved stars from the author and steal his attention. In this light, the masterpiece tells the story about Van Gogh’s most precious object, starry sky, and darkest fear, a reality that can steal it from him.

I truly love this piece of art, mainly for its surreal representation of Van Gogh’s inner world. It also seems impossible to imagine how the picture may be improved since no one really knows the author’s actual idea, not to mention his unique style. However, for me, “Starry Night” depicts the image of the author’s experience of life, which makes the picture especially significant. The glory of the blurry sky and the dread of the fierce fire helps the observers to make a glimpse of what it is like to be Van Gogh.

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IvyPanda. (2023, January 3). The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-starry-night-painting-by-vincent-van-gogh/

"The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh." IvyPanda , 3 Jan. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-starry-night-painting-by-vincent-van-gogh/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh'. 3 January.

IvyPanda . 2023. "The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh." January 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-starry-night-painting-by-vincent-van-gogh/.

1. IvyPanda . "The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh." January 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-starry-night-painting-by-vincent-van-gogh/.

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IvyPanda . "The “Starry Night” Painting by Vincent van Gogh." January 3, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-starry-night-painting-by-vincent-van-gogh/.

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Home / Essay Samples / Art / Artwork / Van Gogh’s Starry Night: A Masterpiece Analysis

Van Gogh's Starry Night: A Masterpiece Analysis

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