Illuminating the Truth: Behind the Brushstrokes of "Starry Night"

by Rachel Sawyer

Looking out of his window at an asylum at Saint-Remy, an artist painted. Centuries later this painting would become one of the most recognizable paintings ever with record-setting demands for prints. From the fluid night sky to the peaceful village below, “Starry Night” intrigues every viewer, even without prior knowledge about its origin. Children recognize this painting, as even they can relate to the calming feeling it produces.

The night sky, as painted from Vincent Van Gogh’s memory during the daytime, is the most prominent feature of the painting and it catches the viewer’s eye at first glance. The blazing stars and the illuminated yellow moon set a contrast against a deep blue sky. The exaggerated swirls and large brushstrokes create a peaceful aura that is mirrored with the sleeping town below. The movement created by the sky’s fluidity and various points of interest immediately grabs the eyes of viewers as the underlying meaning of the painting sinks in.

The massive and luminous sky hovers over the small town, making it appear even smaller in contrast to the great mysterious blue. At a closer look, the town appears haphazard, and the yellow light that appear in the windows of the houses represents not only life but also a struggle against the terrifying mystery of life and the universe, as portrayed in the sky. The only building that dares penetrate the deep sky is the church, with its steeple barely brushing the edge of the unknown. Interestingly, the church has no yellow light in its windows, as it does not oppose the mystery, but rather accepts it.

As Van Gogh painted “Starry Night,” he felt a void inside himself and a longing for religion. He felt trapped in darkness, as is apparent from the deep green Cyprus tree that he constructed and placed into the landscape that in reality lacked such a tree. Even during the day, when he painted, he imagined his world in darkness and mystery of a starry night. He also felt lonely and separated from the world. Many viewers can relate with these feelings, as Van Gogh did not place any people in the scene, but rather left it open to encompass anybody, as well as to show his own feelings of isolation.

However, the bright stars can also represent hope and life. Van Gogh longed for religion for a way to embrace the great mystery as the church steeple embraces the sky. He wished for the peace represented as rolling blue mountains and thick swirls of sky, and wished to move away from the grounded, dark, isolated life he had in the asylum, which dominates the painting with the stark contrast of the lonely dark tree.