Although the artist known as Vincent Van Gogh has an arsenal of masterpieces, few would claim that his most famous work is ‘Starry Night’. It was painted from his room on the first floor of an asylum, where he had admitted himself after a nervous breakdown (during which he famously cut off part of his ear), and shows the night sky as seen from his window. The largest of the stars, scientists have now determined, is more likely the planet Venus. Van Gogh added the village from his own imagination because he felt it was necessary.

Interestingly, Van Gogh was not nearly as enthusiastic about his work, given the enduring popularity of ‘Starry Night’. He described it to his brother Theo as a ‘failure’ and is said to have written: ‘All in all, the only things I consider somewhat good in it are the wheat field, the mountain, the orchard, the olive trees with the blue hills.’ and the portrait and the entrance to the quarry, and the rest means nothing to me.’ Instead of disagreeing, as so many art enthusiasts who came after him did, his brother is said to have replied: ‘I clearly feel what occupies you on the new canvases, like the village in the moonlight… but I feel that the search for style is diminishing.’ the true feeling of things.’

Unfortunately, Van Gogh would never experience the love and fascination that art lovers would feel for his most popular work. Only after his death did his paintings gain great fame. Starry Night, now displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art is by far his most popular work and is visited each year by thousands of art enthusiasts.

But what has fascinated the audience for decades since Van Gogh’s death about ‘Starry Night’?

The Allure of Starry Night

As with any great artwork, it is difficult to explain why it is so beloved. Great art speaks to different people in different ways. It might have to do with the mystery and madness surrounding Van Gogh’s life. Someone on the edge of madness has something fascinating about them. The tortured artist Vincent Van Gogh is perhaps one of the best examples of a misunderstood genius in history, only appreciated after his life was long gone. His entire life and career were marked by struggles and critics who did not value his work. ‘Starry Night’ was created at the height of his creativity, but at a time when he was suffering from severe psychological issues. Just this fact makes ‘Starry Night’ a captivating painting, as one cannot help but wonder what was going through Van Gogh’s mind during the painting. Starry Night was painted in the impressionistic style, like many of Van Gogh’s paintings. This was in contrast to other painters of that time who focused on more realistic and photographic paintings. Instead, Van Gogh focused on an idealized version of what he saw and the feelings that a place or object evoked in him. This also meant that he had the freedom to add creative embellishments, which he achieved by including the cypress tree in the foreground.

The cypress tree fascinated Van Gogh greatly (as can be seen in his painting). Wheat Field with Cypresses (see image above), and one might wonder what feelings this addition was meant to evoke in the viewer of the painting. Cypress trees were most commonly referred to as symbols of death, which would lead to the assumption that Starry Night is a sad or even threatening depiction of a village before dawn. Perhaps morning was a harbinger of death, perhaps the impending sunrise symbolizes hope for a new day after the dark night of loss.

A closer look at how Van Gogh himself viewed death, however, suggests that the presence of the cypress is a symbol of hope. He is quoted as saying: ‘Looking at the stars always brings me to dreaming.’ Why, I wonder, should the bright points in the sky not be just as accessible as the black dots on the map of France? Just as we take the train to get to Tarascon or Rouen, we take death to reach a star.’ Here it seems that he viewed death as a starting point for something brighter and more beautiful than mortal life can offer.

Captivating Brushstrokes

Still, some are drawn to ‘Starry Night’ because of its style. Van Gogh used thick brush strokes and a stunning contrast of colors in a way that is abstract enough to captivate the viewer and invite them to develop their own interpretations of what the dark cypress looming over the small village, or the bright swirling stars and celestial bodies might possibly mean. Yet it is realistic enough that the viewer can recognize what each object is meant to represent in the real world, offering them a new way to view the night sky from their own window.

One might assume that part of the enduring appeal of Starry Night is due to the fact that these fascinating colors, brush strokes, and textures were inspired by something as ordinary as the night sky. That Van Gogh transformed something seemingly simple and unassuming into something so beautiful allows each of us to view the world through a new lens and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

If you wish to enjoy the classic beauty of Starry Night in your own home, check out our Van Gogh Starry Night MOVA Globe for a truly unique interpretation of Van Gogh’s most famous painting.