Running Head: VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

Van Gogh’s, The Starry Night

Author’s Name

Institutuion

Author Note
VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

Van Gogh’s, The Starry Night

Van Gogh’s Starry Night is a piece of art that brings out a mix of emotions evoked by the

night sky (Natalie, 2016). The work is replete with artistic elements and principles which help

in the interpretation of the scene. Its post-impressionism nature reveals itself in the use of

vibrant color and the application of paintwork (Gisbey, 2017). Interestingly, all the elements

of the painting interrelate to achieve Gogh’s design. Specifically, in this work, Gogh uses an

emphasis on every minute detail to elicit thought and reflection. Artists use stress to help the

audience develop an appreciation of the story as intended by the artist (Gisbey, 2017).

Therefore, by looking deeply into these qualities and techniques, viewers get the best out of

the artists' works.

(Gogh,2020)

Art Elements

Line

Throughout the work, depth gets depicted using line contrast. At the bottom right

corner of the painting, Gogh uses straight lines and soft strokes for the town. This effect

implies a calm and tranquil place free from any disturbance whatsoever, as its inhabitants are
VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

asleep (Gisbey, 2017). In contrast, he uses relatively rough strokes for the sky. The heavy

swirls and curves in the strokes depict an atmosphere that is alive. A closer look at the

different brush movements reveals a sky that is busier than the earth, providing light for the

sleeping town. At the foreground of the painting, a cypress tree exists on the landscape. The

lines on the cypress make it have a flame-like appearance, as it extends to the sky. Perhaps,

Gogh used this effect to show how the heaven and the earth are linked though they look

utterly separate at face value. A more in-depth analysis reveals the perception of life, and the

after-life upon death, in heaven. Finally, the thick strokes used in combination with the line

movements show a living scene and moving.

Light

Gogh uses the stars as a source of light in the painting. Besides, the moon stands out

almost at the top right corner of the art. With these heavenly bodies, he traces the movement

of light waves across the blue sky (Natalie, 2016). Further, at the background of the scene,

Gogh uses contour lines to show shadows that are cast at the foot of the distant hills by the

light from the stars. These lines extend at the back of the painting from right to left until the

cypress tree. The artist also uses light contrast to depict the effect of illumination on the

asleep city. The entire lower part of the work appears slightly lit up with the light from the

stars. The intensity of the stars' glow in the sky, compared with the relatively dimmer

reflection on the city, makes the audience concentrate more on the bustling atmosphere.

Color

The artist uses complementary colors throughout the painting. The most prominent

colors in this work are blue and yellow. There are touches of black in a few areas too. Blue is

the color used for the vast sky, which covers about 75% of the scene. Color blue depicts

coolness. Therefore, in this painting, the color displays the nature of the air above the town.

Gogh used yellow for the stars, and black for the cypress tree and the distant shadows at the
VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

background of the scene. Yellow evokes the feeling of warmth. In this scene, it matches the

overall energy characterizing the painting. A little green exists in thin faint strokes, perhaps

incidental to the unavoidable mixing of blue and yellow. It is worth noting that all these

colors do not blend; they bring out a distinct contrast. And as a result of that, the scene

appears to be vibrant and in movement (Natalie, 2016).

Interestingly, the intensity of the colors seems to give them a vibrating motion. Depth

in the scene from gets created by an atmospheric perspective. Color blue seems to deem in

the background to an almost yellow-white color. The foreground remains bright with deep

contrast between the blue and the yellow.

Texture

When one runs their finger on the surface of the painting, the texture is rough.

Besides, one can easily see the strokes from the surface, and in some areas, it appears like the

painting is about to fall off. That is sufficient evidence that Gogh used the impasto texture to

bring out the sky's living impression. Scrutiny of the art reveals thick brushstrokes, implying

that the artist may have mixed the paint on the canvas while designing it. The texture left by

the impasto creates an irregular, almost linear pattern.

Shape

The work contains circles, curves, and wavy lines. All these shapes exist in different

objects in the scene. These shapes are not volumetric, they appear flat, and generally, the

picture appears in 3 Dimensions. It is worth noting that Gogh used forms to bring out each

figure's character in the painting. For example, the long spire in the town characterizes the

church. The flame-like object at the foreground describes the cypress tree. The curved

outlines at the background characterize the hill formations, and the small rectangular

structures in the town characterize the houses. These figures create a personality that gets

observed in the painting. For instance, the spire makes the church imposing in the
VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

background, the flame-like cypress tree seems weak but determined and sure, and the yellow

stars assume a proud attitude. The cypress tree, linking the earth and the heavens, is set at the

foreground to symbolize the importance of sequences in life. Also, the church in the

background represents the Gogh’s native heritage. Lastly, the stars in the foreground

represent comfort and protection.

Space

Through a variety of brush strokes, Gogh’s work achieves a stunning depth and

space. Different color intensity also makes space. For example, the blue color fades in the

distance to show the creation of space. Interestingly, the size of the shapes used also creates

an impression of depth. The town, which appears small, is located deep in the background.

On the other hand, the cypress tree has a relatively more significant figure, so they

appear in the foreground. The distant space is not left empty; it is closed. The artist has filled

it with the houses in the town and the far hills.

Art Principles

Scale and Proportion

Gogh used this principle to emphasize the details of his painting. The work itself is

74cm by 92cm. Audiences who view this work have no difficulty in observing it from a

relatively close distance of at most 2 meters. However, viewers may miss out on the minute

details when they stand more than 2 meters from the painting. The objects in the art are of

different sizes.

Interestingly, the stars appear more significant to the audience's eye than they are

naturally. It seems, Gogh used distorted scale on the stars to depict their roles in the night

sky. Apart from the starry sky, the proportions of the other figures are accurate. The cypress

tree might appear large because of the atmospheric perspective used in the painting. There is
VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

also evidence of a hierarchical scale in the art, depicted by the enlarged size of the stars. The

effect of this technique is that it shows the importance of the stars in the night sky. In the

painting, the composition of the proportion of the objects is well-spaced. For example, the

houses in the town relate well in size with the distant hills in the background.

Balance.

Gogh used asymmetrical balance in his drawing. The moon balances the weight

brought by the cypress tree on the left side of the work. Interestingly, the symmetrical

balance gets achieved when the cypress tree begins thickly from the bottom of the left side of

the scene as it thins upwards. On the other hand, the moon shines bright on the top right part

of the drawing.

Rhythm

In this work, Gogh used the strokes of his brush to make rhythms in the painting. The

long curves that he placed on the sky and the curvy strokes on the cypress tree show a

moving pace that gives the atmosphere a living nature. This rhythm splits the drawing into

two, the alive sky, and the sleepy town. However, the intensity of the rhythm gives the entire

scene a bustling atmosphere.

Emphasis

Many factors in the drawing attract the audience's eye. The first item that catches the

eye is the yellow moon. Viewers also get invited by the black cypress tree at the foreground

and the vast blue sky. Besides, the calm colors of the diagram get interrupted by the bright

yellow moon and stars. These attractions help readers develop an interest in the painting

because they provoke thought. Finally, Gogh uses psychological focus in his drawing to

evoke a feeling of excitement.

VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is clear that Van Gogh, in "the Starry Sky," has used different artistic

techniques to bring out the principle of emphasis (Natalie, 2016). From the creative use of

color contrast to establishing a rhythm throughout the work, the audience’s thoughts get

evoked to ponder more about the drawing (Gisbey, 2017).

VAN GOGH’S, THE STARRY NIGHT

References

Gisbey, P. (2017). European Art History: A Primer. Research Gate.

Gogh, V. (n.d). The Starry Night - Vincent van Gogh. Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved

June 21, 2020, from https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-starry-night-vincent-

van-gogh/bgEuwDxel93-Pg?hl=en

Natalie, P. (2016). "Van Gogh: An Exploration of Disorder and Aesthetics." Honors Theses.

352.