27 Surprising 'The Starry Night' Facts: Learn About The Famous Van Gogh Painting

'Starry, starry night...' is a line from a famous song, believed to have been inspired by Vincent van Gogh's most famous painting.

Amongst his many masterpieces, 'The Starry Night', is one of the most recognizable paintings by van Gogh. Currently, this painting, worth over $100 million, is housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

The art work depicts a French town at night and was painted in 1889. This may sound simple, but the way it was captured is haunting and evocative.

Also, the history and story behind the piece are quite interesting. Van Gogh painted this during his time in a mental asylum and is likely a reference to his mental state. He was reportedly inspired by the night view and the morning star.

The piece includes olive trees, blue hills, villages, and the night sky with stars. The combination of color, lines, texture, form, and space is what makes this an incredible complexity within western art.

Continue reading to find out what the shining dots in the painting signify and more interesting 'The Starry Night' facts!

Cultural Importance

A beautiful symphony of reality and fantasy, van Gogh's 'Starry Night' is one of the most famous paintings in the world. Here are some facts about the cultural significance of this painting.

Vincent van Gogh reportedly admired both the day and the night. He was especially interested in painting night effects.

Although the artist experienced depression and other mental health issues in his lifetime, he was conscious of what he was drawing. He never lost enthusiasm for developing his art.

Many believe van Gogh's depiction of night scenes is a reflection of his rich literary knowledge.

The self-taught artist was very disciplined when drawing his creations. He taught himself classical techniques, especially regarding the use of oil paint.

In Arles, France, he started painting art that gave a mystical or dream-like vibe.

His paintings are a great mix of reality and imagination.

In 'The Starry Night', he is known to have mastered the art of coloring the dark landscape, while at the same time infusing a spiritual meaning into the painting.

Features Of The 'The Starry Night' Painting

So, what is so special about 'The Starry Night'? Van Gogh's representation of the Arles landscape at night is a perfect combination of elements, lines, shape, and space.

The most noticeable thing is the use of lines to create the painting. Continuous spirals were used to paint the night sky, curved lines for the cypress trees, and short dashes for the village.

The shape and form of the lines varied depending on the element being drawn in the painting.

The focus was placed on the stars by drawing thick lines around them.

Blue is the main color used in the art work, with yellow and white used to represent the stars and other bright lights.

The dark spires in the front are cypress trees.

The morning star painted in 'The Starry Night' was a representation of the planet Venus.

Story Behind The 'The Starry Night' Painting

Vincent van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' painting may symbolize different things to different people. Interestingly, van Gogh painted his most famous art piece while in a mental asylum.

Vincent van Gogh suffered from mental health issues and during a particularly challenging time, he checked himself into the Saint Rémy mental asylum. It is believed that 'The Starry Night' was the view from his window while there.

In the asylum, the artist was given a lot of freedom to go outside and paint. He was also provided with a studio.

At the asylum, van Gogh was diagnosed with suffering from epileptic fits. At first, he was seen to be recovering, however, he relapsed. He started hallucinating and having bouts of depression and suicidal thoughts.

He explained his inspiration behind 'The Starry Night' to his younger brother, Theo, in one of his letters. He wrote that, before sunrise, he saw from his window a view of the country and the sky had only one big morning star.

Van Gogh also pointed out in his letter, that although 'The Starry Night' was the view from his bedroom window, he had not painted in the iron bars that were actually present on the window.

Due to the relapse of his symptoms, Vincent van Gogh once again started working with dark colors. This shift in the color scheme was seen in his 'The Starry Night' painting.

Some believe that there are 11 stars in the painting's starry sky, suggesting that van Gogh may have been influenced by Joseph's story in 'The Old Testament'.

Artist Facts

Vincent van Gogh is now known as one of the world's most famous artists. His paintings are highly sought after, with most categorized as priceless. Unfortunately, he was not so successful during his life.

Vincent van Gogh grew up in the Netherlands, as a country minister and an artist. Born in 1853, van Gogh was named after his grandfather. This name had previously been given to his elder brother, who died at childbirth.

Van Gogh did not earn any fame during his lifetime. His younger brother's wife played a key role in promoting van Gogh's painting legacy. As an art dealer, Theo van Gogh committed himself to showing his brother's incredible legacy.

Van Gogh started painting in his 20s. Before starting his painting career, he used to work in his father's art dealership and an art gallery.

He had also considered taking up a career as a minister, so he applied to the School of Theology, but failed to be accepted. This was because he refused to take the Latin part of the exam, as he considered the language meant for peasants.

He once was appointed as a missionary in Belgium. During this period, it is believed he underwent a spiritual awakening, that led him to give away all his worldly possessions and lead a simple life. However, this life approach was frowned upon by the Church and hence, he was discharged.

Vincent van Gogh was not a trained artist. He was a self-taught artist and only had art training a few months before his death.

Van Gogh was known for his behavior, as he often got into arguments with other artists. This led him to be alienated, due to his strong, argumentative, and stubborn personality.

The public in Rotterdam received a chance to view van Gogh's paintings from his Dutch days in 1903. This exhibition was organized by the Oldenzeel Gallery.

FAQs

What is interesting about 'The Starry Night'?

'The Starry Night' is a depiction of the night sky from van Gogh's asylum window.

Can you buy 'The Starry Night'?

No, you cannot buy 'The Starry Night'.

Did van Gogh sign 'The Starry Night'?

Van Gogh did not sign 'The Starry Night'.

Why is 'The Starry Night' in New York?

The Museum of Modern Art in New York acquired 'The Starry Night' from Georgette van Stolk.

How did Vincent van Gogh use lines in 'The Starry Night'?

Vincent van Gogh created the curvy or swirly night sky with spiraling lines.

Did van Gogh paint 'Dream Tree'?

It is unclear whether van Gogh painted 'Dream Tree' or not.

What kind of hospital was van Gogh in when he created this painting?

Van Gogh was admitted to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole mental asylum, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France.

How much is 'The Starry Night' worth?

'The Starry Night' is estimated to be more than $100 million.

Why is 'The Starry Night' so famous?

'The Starry Night' is famous due to the unique way it is painted and the history behind its creation.

Why did van Gogh cut off his ear?

During an argument with Paul Gauguin, with whom he was working in Arles, Van Gogh severed his ear.