Famous works of art are praised often enough, but then again, they have that special quality that makes them classics. I happen to like high art of the Renaissance the most, but often wander off into different territory. This time, it’s Starry Night by post-impressionist Vincent van Gogh. It caught my eye with its beautiful dotted curves that flow like constellations of stars in the sky, and its smudges of meshing colors. There was just something so striking and surreal about it. The folds of the sky curve like the waves of an ocean, so I wonder if I’m really looking at a night sky or an underwater realm. Even the rolling hills that divide the top two thirds of the painting from the bottom third look like tides crashing on the town. This can be interpreted to symbolize the enduring quality of nature that overpowers artificial constructions of man. Lastly, the oil gives it that smudgey feel and the illusion of motion that impressionist paintings aspire to. In fact, if we look at only the sky portion of Starry Night, it could be mistaken for a bird’s eye view of a pond. This multi-faceted quality of interpretation is what separates great art from legendary art.
Another focal point is the strange plant-like structure jutting out on the bottom left. It’s jarring and doesn’t fit the painting at all, yet is so iconic and dominant that one can’t help but study it. I’ll never understand why van Gogh placed it there instead of at the right edge, but perhaps that’s a part of breaking convention and exploring new ground – being bold and doing things contrary to popular knowledge.
Artistic analysis aside, Starry Night appeals to me on a simpler level. Many people understand the awe of a vast expanse of darkness lit up by glittering points of stars. Maybe it reminds us that there is hope in the darkest of times. Maybe it excites us about all that could be out there. Or maybe we simply enjoy the beauty of it. Whatever it is, there is so much power and expression in this landscape that even after over a century, curators know this classic carries meaning that the whole world ought to see.
Title: Starry Night
Name of artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date of work: June 1889
Materials/Medium: Oil on canvas
Duration/Running Time: N/A
Genre: Visual Art: Painting
Venue or Location: Museum of Modern Art
Backup Link: http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/auth/gogh/starry-night/gogh.starry-night.jpg
