Analyzing Vincent Van Gogh's 'Starry Night'
Alyssa Signs
Mrs. Deschamps
Art Period 1
December 22, 2014
Art Analysis Essay
“Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh is a detailed and abstract painting, drawing attention to the beautifully created sky. Immediately, this painting made me feel calm, with the colors and patterns he used throughout the sky. Van Gogh's color choice is expressed in many shades of blue. The original painting had dimensions of 29 x 36 1/4 inches, which is fairly large in size. A large percentage of the painting consists of the sky, which leads me to infer Van Gogh wanted to draw attention to it.
Some believe, Van Gogh drew inspiration from this verse, creating eleven stars in his painting. Genesis 37:9 "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said,
Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." While it is not known for sure if this is true or not, many scholars believe it to be. Some of the features in the sky are exaggerated, making the viewer at ease with the sky. Van Gogh explained, “these are exaggerations from the point of view of arrangement, their lines are contorted like those of ancient woodcuts.” The swirls throughout keep the eye moving, following the curves and patterns.
Below the sky, is a small, secluded, and peaceful town. In the center is a church, taller than the rest of the buildings, drawing attention to the importance of it in the town. Like the sky, the town also gives the viewer a calm and peaceful feeling. To the left of the painting, is a large,
dark mass. While it can be interpreted as many different things by the viewer, it gives a great sense of isolation. In conclusion, “Starry Night” is a very unique and detailed painting, wellknown around the world.
Mrs. Deschamps
Art Period 1
December 22, 2014
Art Analysis Essay
“Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh is a detailed and abstract painting, drawing attention to the beautifully created sky. Immediately, this painting made me feel calm, with the colors and patterns he used throughout the sky. Van Gogh's color choice is expressed in many shades of blue. The original painting had dimensions of 29 x 36 1/4 inches, which is fairly large in size. A large percentage of the painting consists of the sky, which leads me to infer Van Gogh wanted to draw attention to it.
Some believe, Van Gogh drew inspiration from this verse, creating eleven stars in his painting. Genesis 37:9 "And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said,
Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me." While it is not known for sure if this is true or not, many scholars believe it to be. Some of the features in the sky are exaggerated, making the viewer at ease with the sky. Van Gogh explained, “these are exaggerations from the point of view of arrangement, their lines are contorted like those of ancient woodcuts.” The swirls throughout keep the eye moving, following the curves and patterns.
Below the sky, is a small, secluded, and peaceful town. In the center is a church, taller than the rest of the buildings, drawing attention to the importance of it in the town. Like the sky, the town also gives the viewer a calm and peaceful feeling. To the left of the painting, is a large,
dark mass. While it can be interpreted as many different things by the viewer, it gives a great sense of isolation. In conclusion, “Starry Night” is a very unique and detailed painting, wellknown around the world.