STARRY NIGHT

Vincent van Gogh

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Personal perspective: The first thing I noticed when looking at this painting was the
overwhelming night sky that took up most of the background. The flow-like swirls are
moving gently, gently, seemingly merging at the center to form a spiral. That made me
excited and felt like being in a hallucination.
Historical perspective: The picture is drawn with the view from the window frame, it is
redrawn according to the author's memory. In fact, Van Gogh enrolled himself in
treatment at a mental hospital when he suffered a prolonged mental breakdown and
tormenting depression. It was during his stay here that Van Gogh created one of the
most recognized works of art in the world - Starry Night. Moreover, when Van Gogh
painted this work from his room in the mental hospital, he removed the door frames as
if freeing himself from the prison bars in his mind, perhaps, thirst for freedom.

The Starry Night is Post-Impressionist art. It follows the Post-Impressionist style, with its
focus on nature depicted through color and light. It also includes symbolism that expresses
the artist's feelings toward the subject.
Technical perspective: The impasto technique is usually associated with the work of
Vincent Van Gogh. It is said that he applied the paints directly onto the canvas and
simply mixed them together with his own fingers. One of the examples of the impasto
technique in his oeuvre is the painting The Starry Night.
Ethical perspective: According to Artble, many critics believe that Starry Night reflects
Van Gogh's torment in the last years of his life. The work has bold, vivid tones,
contrasting with the dark color of the night sky, symbolizing Van Gogh's mind in the days
of serious illness. "Why, I thought to myself, why can't we reach the bright spots in the
sky like the black dots on a map of France?... Just like when we catch the train to
Tarascon or Rouen , they approach death when reaching for a star," he wrote in the
letter.
Cultural perspective: The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh is a traditional symbol of
the Post-Impressionist movement. It depicts a landscape that is flushed with luminescent
stars, swirling clouds and a radiant crescent moon. The composition of The Starry Night
is characterized by exaggerated and surrealistic brushstrokes. Starry Night is a product of
Van Gogh’s encounter with his personal religious connections and isolation of which
convey van Gogh’s expressionism in creating his unique view of reality. Many people
believe The Starry Night is an expression of Van Gogh's mental health. The vibrant blues
are a common color during his bouts of mental illness. His fascination with stars, death,
and transcendence are evident in the starry sky he painted.
Critical perspective: My interpretation is just one of many comments made by other
art conscious people about the Starry Night. It will always remain an elusive work for art
critics and students alike. Because no one really knows Van Gogh's intentions for this
painting. Everyone seems to be using different codes to decipher what Van Gogh is
trying to express. Artists of this period had a subjective view of the visual world and
painted about their world, according to their own artistic perception. As Van Gogh
himself put it, "We can be more successful in creating an enjoyable and comfortable
nature than we can realize with just a glimpse of reality." That's why Post-Impressionist
artists don't have a fixed style – their works reflect each individual's unique personality
and perception.