starry night description essay

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AP®︎/College Art History

Course: ap®︎/college art history   >   unit 6.

• Courbet, The Stonebreakers
• Early Photography: Niépce, Talbot and Muybridge
• Manet, Olympia
• Painting modern life: Monet's Gare Saint-Lazare
• Monet, The Gare Saint-Lazare
• Velasco, The Valley of Mexico
• Rodin, The Burghers of Calais

Van Gogh, The Starry Night

• Mary Cassatt, The Coiffure
• Munch, The Scream
• Gauguin, Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going?
• Sullivan, Carson, Pirie, Scott Building
• Cézanne, Mont Sainte-Victoire
• Picasso, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon
• The first modern photograph? Alfred Stieglitz, The Steerage
• Stieglitz, The Steerage
• Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
• Constantin Brancusi, The Kiss
• Analytic Cubism
• Matisse, Goldfish
• Kandinsky, Improvisation 28 (second version), 1912
• Kirchner, Self-Portrait As a Soldier
• Käthe Kollwitz, In Memoriam Karl Liebknecht
• Le Corbusier, Villa Savoye
• Mondrian, Composition with Red, Blue, and Yellow
• Stepanova, The Results of the First Five-Year Plan
• Meret Oppenheim, Object (Fur-covered cup, saucer, and spoon)
• Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater
• Kahlo, The Two Fridas (Las dos Fridas)
• Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series (*short version*)
• Jacob Lawrence, The Migration Series (*long version*)
• Duchamp, Fountain
• Lam, The Jungle
• Mexican Muralism: Los Tres Grandes David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera, and José Clemente Orozco
• Rivera, Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Central Park
• de Kooning, Woman I
• Mies van der Rohe, Seagram Building
• Warhol, Marilyn Diptych
• Yayoi Kusama, Narcissus Garden
• Helen Frankenthaler, The Bay
• Claes Oldenburg, Lipstick (Ascending) on Caterpillar Tracks
• Robert Smithson, Spiral Jetty
• Robert Venturi, House in New Castle County, Delaware
• Jean-Michel Basquiat, Horn Players

A rare night landscape

Technical challenges, the colors of the night sky.

It often seems to me that the night is even more richly colored than the day, colored with the most intense violets, blues and greens. If you look carefully, you’ll see that some stars are lemony, others have a pink, green, forget-me-not blue glow. And without labouring the point, it’s clear to paint a starry sky it’s not nearly enough to put white spots on blue-black.(678, 14 September 1888)

Invention, remembrance and observation

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Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’: Analysis

Introduction, formal analysis, contextualization.

One of the most prominent paintings of Vincent van Gogh – The Starry Night – is currently exhibited in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The piece of art was created in 1889 and is still one of the most glorious paintings of van Gogh. The Starry Night expresses the unique style of the most celebrated Dutch artist. The picture, which is a figment of the artist’s imagination, was painted in Saint-Remy, France. This paper will present a formal analysis, contextualization of the artwork, and opinion of the author on the unique features and the meaning of the painting.

One might say that the colors of the painting make The Starry Night stand out. The stars seem genuinely bottomless, the Crescent moon gives the impression of the sun, cypresses are more like flames, and spiral curls pull the viewer into the abyss. The vigor of the artwork is focused on the uniform and continuous motion of the sky. The illusion of flickering elements is created by a mix of white and yellow colors that contrast each other on the canvas. One might say that the painting can draw the attention of any viewer.

Looking at the picture, the viewer sees a night landscape. A significant part of the canvas is occupied by the sky, the stars, and the moon, which are depicted mainly on the right side. To the right in the foreground, trees are located, and to the left, below is a town or village hidden in the trees. In the background, there are dark hills on the horizon line. Heavy thick strokes create the rich texture of the painting. The value of the art lies in a specific oily technique of strokes that van Gogh used. One can state that the picture belongs to the genre of landscape.

The composition of The Starry Night is balanced with diagonal lines – on the right side, there are trees at the bottom, and on the left side, there is a bright yellow moon at the top. The sky prevails over the earth; this proportion shows that the upper part prevails over the lower. All shapes and elements are expressed by color and rounded strokes. However, in the lower part of the painting, where there are the town, trees, and hills, the distinction among them is used by separate linear dark forms.

Deep space is created in the painting due to the color scheme, the composition of the movement and strokes. The depiction of color was of paramount importance to van Gogh. Once, he wrote that he was “very sensitive to color and its particular language, its effects of complementarity, contrasts, harmony” (van Gogh). The volume of objects is hidden by broad strokes; and individual contour strokes only outline the size of the objects.

All parts of The Starry Night are subject to a single idea and do not have autonomy. This unity is expressed in the composition and dynamics, because some objects (houses, trees) are visible, and many of them overlap each other (trees, field houses). The scale of the objects is also changed (the stars and the moon are hypertrophied). A distinctive feature of the painting is the dynamism, which conveys the emotional experiences of the artist. The Starry Night draws a viewer into the mystery of the sky and the night.

Vincent van Gogh painted the picture at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole lunatic asylum in Saint-Remy-de-Provence in 1889. The Starry Night was drawn based on “van Gogh’s direct observations as well as his imagination, memories, and emotions” (Stanska). Van Gogh painted the artwork during a period of his remission. It was a time when he asked asylum keepers to move back to his studio in Arles. But residents of the city signed a petition demanding to expel the artist from the city. Despite the intense desire, Van Gogh had never returned to Arles.

The creation of the picture, according to researchers, was influenced by the legend of Joseph from the Old Testament (Schapiro, p. 100). The historian Meyer Schapiro claimed that The Starry Night might be a “visionary [painting] inspired by a religious mood” (p. 100). The spiritual narrative of the eleven stars might be found in The Starry Night . Two vortices occupy the center of the painting: one is large, the other is small. Vortices are depicted as a direct conflict of unequal competitors, senior and junior. Behind this duel, it is possible to see friendly, but competitive relations with Paul Gauguin, or with van Gogh’s brother, Theo, with whom van Gogh had a close relationship. The picture has everything except the sun, but a viewer does not know, who was van Gogh’s sun: brother, father, or another person. It might be suggested that van Gogh, who was heavily dependent on his younger brother, wanted him to be subordinated.

One might state that the cypress, whose flames are directed upwards, is an unconscious symbol of what van Gogh would like to aspire to. He wanted to feel a connection with space, with the abyss that feeds his creativity, but, at the same time, not to lose touch with the earth. In reality, van Gogh had no such roots, because he lost them during his life.

The Starry Night seems to be painted by a child, not a famous artist, because of its extraterrestrial nature, depicting a spaceship or a rocket in the sky. These colorful and extraordinary features make this painting exceptional and perfect. One might wonder, what are the special features depicted in this picture that force millions of viewers search for a solution? Perhaps, a single answer to this question will not be found. Nevertheless, The Starry Night might not leave indifferent any person who has seen its reproduction at least once.

Schapiro, Meyer. Vincent van Gogh. Harry N. Abrams, 1950.

Stanska, Zuzanna. “ Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night (Painting Of The Week) .” DailyArt Magazine , 2016.

Van Gogh, Vincent. Letter to Willemien van Gogh . 1890.

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Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night

A rare night landscape

The curving, swirling lines of hills, mountains, and sky, the brilliantly contrasting blues and yellows, the large, flame-like cypress trees, and the thickly layered brushstrokes of Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night are ingrained in the minds of many as an expression of the artist’s turbulent state-of-mind. Van Gogh’s canvas is indeed an exceptional work of art, not only in terms of its quality but also within the artist’s oeuvre, since in comparison to favored subjects like irises, sunflowers, or wheat fields, night landscapes are rare. Nevertheless, it is surprising that The Starry Night has become so well known. Van Gogh mentioned it briefly in his letters as a simple “study of night” or ”night effect.”

Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night , 1889, oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm (The Museum of Modern Art; photo: Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

His  brother Theo, manager of a Parisian art gallery and a gifted connoisseur of contemporary art, was unimpressed, telling Vincent, “I clearly sense what preoccupies you in the new canvases like the village in the moonlight… but I feel that the search for style takes away the real sentiment of things” (813, 22 October 1889). Although Theo van Gogh felt that the painting ultimately pushed style too far at the expense of true emotive substance, the work has become iconic of individualized expression in modern landscape painting.

Vincent van Gogh, Starry Night over the Rhone , 1888, oil on canvas, 72 x 92 cm ( Musée d’Orsay, Paris )

Technical challenges

Van Gogh had had the subject of a blue night sky dotted with yellow stars in mind for many months before he painted The Starry Night in late June or early July of 1889. It presented a few technical challenges he wished to confront—namely the use of contrasting color and the complications of painting en plein air (outdoors) at night—and he referenced it repeatedly in letters to family and friends as a promising if problematic theme. “A starry sky, for example, well – it’s a thing that I’d like to try to do,” Van Gogh confessed to the painter Emile Bernard in the spring of 1888, “but how to arrive at that unless I decide to work at home and from the imagination?” (596, 12 April 1888).

As an artist devoted to working whenever possible from prints and illustrations or outside in front of the landscape he was depicting, the idea of painting an invented scene from imagination troubled Van Gogh. When he did paint a first example of the full night sky in Starry Night over the Rhône (1888, oil on canvas, 72.5 x 92 cm, Musée d’Orsay, Paris), an image of the French city of Arles at night, the work was completed outdoors with the help of gas lamplight, but evidence suggests that his second Starry Night was created largely if not exclusively in the studio.

Following the dramatic end to his short-lived collaboration with the painter Paul Gauguin in Arles in 1888 and the infamous breakdown during which he mutilated part of his own ear, Van Gogh was ultimately hospitalized at Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, an asylum and clinic for the mentally ill near the village of Saint-Rémy. During his convalescence there, Van Gogh was encouraged to paint, though he rarely ventured more than a few hundred yards from the asylum’s walls.

Saint-Paul-de-Mausole near Saint-Rémy, France (photo: Emdee , CC BY-SA 3.0)

Church (detail), Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night , 1889, oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm. (The Museum of Modern Art, New York; photo: Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Besides his private room, from which he had a sweeping view of the mountain range of the Alpilles, he was also given a small studio for painting. Since this room did not look out upon the mountains but rather had a view of the asylum’s garden, it is assumed that Van Gogh composed The Starry Night using elements of a few previously completed works still stored in his studio, as well as aspects from imagination and memory. It has even been argued that the church’s spire in the village is somehow more Dutch in character and must have been painted as an amalgamation of several different church spires that van Gogh had depicted years earlier while living in the Netherlands.

Van Gogh also understood the painting to be an exercise in deliberate stylization, telling his brother, “These are exaggerations from the point of view of arrangement, their lines are contorted like those of ancient woodcuts” (805, c. 20 September 1889). Similar to his friends Bernard and Gauguin, van Gogh was experimenting with a style inspired in part by medieval woodcuts , with their thick outlines and simplified forms.

Stars (detail), Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night , 1889, oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm (The Museum of Modern Art, New York; photo: Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

The colors of the night sky

On the other hand, The Starry Night evidences Van Gogh’s extended observation of the night sky. After leaving Paris for more rural areas in southern France, Van Gogh was able to spend hours contemplating the stars without interference from gas or electric city street lights, which were increasingly in use by the late nineteenth century. “This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big” 777, c. 31 May – 6 June 1889). As he wrote to his sister Willemien van Gogh from Arles,

It often seems to me that the night is even more richly colored than the day, colored with the most intense violets, blues and greens. If you look carefully, you’ll see that some stars are lemony, others have a pink, green, forget-me-not blue glow. And without laboring the point, it’s clear to paint a starry sky it’s not nearly enough to put white spots on blue-black. (678, 14 September 1888)

Van Gogh followed his own advice, and his canvas demonstrates the wide variety of colors he perceived on clear nights.

Invention, remembrance and observation

Impasto and brush strokes (detail), Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night , 1889, oil on canvas, 73.7 x 92.1 cm (The Museum of Modern Art, New York; photo: Steven Zucker , CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Arguably, it is this rich mixture of invention, remembrance, and observation combined with Van Gogh’s use of simplified forms, thick impasto, and boldly contrasting colors that has made the work so compelling to subsequent generations of viewers as well as to other artists. Inspiring and encouraging others is precisely what Van Gogh sought to achieve with his night scenes. When Starry Night over the Rhône was exhibited at the Salon des Indépendants, an important and influential venue for vanguard artists in Paris, in 1889, Vincent told Theo he hoped that it “might give others the idea of doing night effects better than I do.” The Starry Night , his own subsequent “night effect,” became a foundational image for Expressionism as well as perhaps the most famous painting in Van Gogh’s oeuvre.

Additional resources:

This painting at MoMA

This painting at the Google Art Project

The Starry Night from MoMA Multimedia

This painting from MoMA Learning

Smarthistory images for teaching and learning:

[flickr_tags user_id=”82032880@N00″ tags=”VGSN,”]

More Smarthistory images…

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“Analysis of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night”, Essay Example

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The “Starry Night”, painted by Vincent Van Gogh is an oil painting on canvas measuring 73 x 92 that was created in June of 1889. Starry Night has come to be one of the most well-known paintings in modern day culture and one of the most replicated prints in art. Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime; however, he has come to be one of the most famous artists of all times. Vincent Van Gogh was born in Holland in 1853 and traveled to Paris in 1886 where he began to paint in short brushstrokes like the impressionist during that time period. Van Gogh was troubled with some personal issues, possibly a brain disease or lead poisoning and ended up cutting a portion of his ear lobe off. (Van Gogh Gallery) He was admitted to Remy a psychiatric hospital, called Saint Remy. It was at Saint Remy where he created the famous masterpiece, “Starry Night”. (Life of Van Gogh) His troubled personal life explains why the picture was a nocturnal piece with an underlying drama to it. The elements in the painting of lines, lighting, space, color, principles of balance and focal point all illustrate the drama that the artist was undergoing during his creation of the “Starry Night”.

Van Gogh paints a night sky and swirls the clouds and lights the clouds to shine their own luminescence, as well as a shining bright crescent moon. The lines in the sky of the painting are interesting because it keeps the viewer’s focus moving across the painting. In addition, the lines curve and create an onward movement that attracts the viewer and keeps them involved with the painting. Furthermore, Van Gogh uses unique thick brush strokes that are very obvious to the viewer. It has been hypothesized that his harsh brush strokes are in relation to his mental status while he was painting; however, all of his paintings do show consistency with his unique brushstroke. The ironic thing about the hard brushstrokes and the meaning of the brushstrokes is that Vincent himself felt more at ease with that technique in painting. For instance, he wrote a letter to his brother, Theo, and stated, “I should not be surprised if you like the Starry Night and the Ploughed Fields, there is a greater quiet about them than in the other canvases” (Artble). Even though there were harsh brushstrokes and the painting was set at night, Van Gogh made portions of the painting bright and filed with starts. This brings us to the lighting in the painting.

Within the brushstrokes, as mentioned previously, there is light that guides the viewer through the dark night. This illustrates Van Gogh’s favor for nighttime. He makes the sky extremely powerful as it sits above a small town. He swirls the colors and lines that incorporates both the color and light that he uses throughout the painting. The sky is painted with white clouds and bright stars. The main lighting in the painting is the bright shining starts and the crescent moon. The shining stars illuminate the sky, as well as the large crescent moon. The heaviness of the brushstrokes and the rich colors give a sense of chaos. There are also lights shining brightly from the windows of the houses in the town below, but it looks more peaceful than the chaotic sky. It was been thought that this was Van Gogh’s way of making peace with his illness and finding his way to heaven. The light in the sky and houses therefore represent hope that even in a dark night, there is light. Basically, he was giving himself hope through the lighting exemplified in the painting, telling himself that no matter how dark a time is there is still hope. In addition, the letter written to his brother indicates that the lighting made him feel calm and relaxed. (Artble)

In addition to the brushstrokes and lighting, Van Gogh creates spacing in his painting that allows the viewer to move their eyes between the stars and the curves in the sky to create a dot-to dot effect (Artble). The spacing creates a fluid movement of brushstrokes resulting in a calm and beautiful piece. It was indicated during the Van Gogh’s time, the Impressionist painters were not focusing on this type of spacing in their art work, making Van Gogh’s work unique and extremely distinct for the 19 th century. (Artble)

Van Gogh’s chose the color yellow and blue as the dominant colors in the painting. He also used these colors in many other of his later pieces of art. As mentioned previously, it is said that he was suffering from some sort of brain illness or possibly lead poisoning and it is rationalized that is what influenced Van Gogh to use such different colors in his art work for that time period. He used the bright yellow paint along with white to create the spiral clouds in order to bring attention of the viewer to the sky portion of the painting. He also uses green and other colors in the town, such as orange and red to offset and make the yellow stand out more. Overall, the choice of the bright and rich colors of the night is what draws so much attention and captivates the viewers in this unique piece of art.

There are different forms that are used in the painting, including balance. The balance in the painting is shown through the movement of the brushstrokes that starts on the left end of the painting towards the center, where it becomes the main focus of the painting. The balance is also shown through the harmony that is created with the numerous stars that are in the sky and the houses that are represented below. In addition, balance is made through the position of the cypress trees and the crescent moon in the sky. The combination of the moon, houses, and rolling hills is what ultimately creates a sense of balance in the painting. (Scribd)

The focus of the painting is the lines. The lines in the painting are two different types, a long-term bend and a short-term bend that alternates giving the viewer an engaging feeling. Looking at the painting, the viewer can focus on the harsh brush strokes of the alternating lines and focus on the bright colors made of those lines. The main focus of the Starry Night also leads the viewer to think about how different Van Gogh’s technique was compared to other artists during the 19 th century. While looking at the Starry Night it is easy to look at all the focal points in the painting and realize that Van Gogh was an interesting individual and used his emotions and whatever he was going through at the time to paint his pictures, without following the rules of the time. While he was alive he only sold one painting and now many of his works of art are masterpieces. (Scribd)

There are different reasons why Van Gogh may have painted the Starry Night in the manner that he did. For one, since it was painted during his stay at Saint Remy, it is supposedly his version of his view from his room there. In regard to the form, objects, color, lighting and technique, it has been theorized that both his mental status and the socioeconomic status of the culture during that time period may have influenced the artwork. For instance, he was just hospitalized for cutting off his lobe and he uses harsh brushstrokes to represent the dark night. The cypress trees in the painting give a more gentle approach and may represent the townspeople who were farmers during that period, in which he may have thought of hard working individuals. On the left side of the Starry Night painting there is a large dark object that could represent negativity or rejection. Perhaps Van Gogh added that in the painting to describe his feelings of rejection from society and the lack of interest in his paintings at the time. (Scribd) Overall, the Starr Night is an amazing painting with great depth and unique technique. It is one of the paintings of over all time that majority of individuals, whether educated in art or not, recognize or have hanging in their home. The uniqueness of the color, lighting and brush strokes alone represent a unique masterpiece.

Works Cited

Arble. Starry Night Analysis. Web. 2012. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 from: http://www.artble.com/artists/vincent_van_gogh/paintings/starry_night/more_information/analysis

Life of Van Gough. Analysis of Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night. WOeb. 2011Retrieved April 1, 2012 from: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html.

Scribd. Web. Retrieved on April 1, 2012 form: http://www.scribd.com/doc/57425684/Vincent-Van-Gogh-The-Starry-Night

Van Gogh Gallery. Vincent van Gogh: Biography. Web. 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2012 from: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/misc/bio.html.

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Vincent van Gogh

• Style and Technique
• Critical Reception
• Bedroom in Arles
• Café Terrace at Night
• Portrait d'Eugene Boch
• Self-portrait with Straw Hat
• Story-Theme

Starry Night

• Starry Night Over the Rhone
• The Flowering Orchard
• The Potato Eaters

Starry Night Analysis

• Date of Creation:
• Height (cm):
• Length (cm):
• Characteristics:
• Post-impressionism
• Art Movement:
• Post-Impressionism
• Created by:
• Current Location:
• New York, New York
• Museum of Modern Art
• Starry Night Analysis Page's Content
• Composition
• Use of color
• Use of Light
• Mood, Tone and Emotion
• Brushstroke

Starry Night Composition

The night sky depicted by van Gogh in the Starry Night painting is brimming with whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The setting is one that viewers can relate to and van Gogh´s swirling sky directs the viewer´s eye around the painting, with spacing between the stars and the curving contours creating a dot-to-dot effect. These internal elements ensure fluidity and such contours were important for the artist even though they were becoming less significant for other Impressionists. Thus Starry Night´s composition was distinct from the Impressionist technique of the 19th century. The artist was aware that his Starry Night composition was somewhat surreal and stylized and in a letter to his brother he even referred to "exaggerations in terms of composition. " The vivid style chosen by van Gogh was unusual - he chose lines to portray this night scene when silhouettes would have been a more obvious choice. In Starry Night contoured forms are a means of expression and they are used to convey emotion. Many feel that van Gogh´s turbulent quest to overcome his illness is reflected in the dimness of the night sky. The village is painted with dark colors but the brightly lit windows create a sense of comfort. The village is peaceful in comparison to the dramatic night sky and the silence of the night can almost be felt in Starry Night. The steeple dominates the village and symbolizes unity in the town. In terms of composition, the church steeple gives an impression of size and isolation. In the left foreground is a curvy cypress tree which is typically associated with mourning. It is painted in the same way as the sky with fluid lines which enhances the flow of the Starry Night painting well as its easiness on the eye.

Starry Night Use of color

Van Gogh´s choice of color in Starry Night has been much debated, particularly the dominance of yellow in this and other late works. Some believe van Gogh may have been suffering from lead poisoning or a type of brain disease and that this explains his strange use of color in later paintings. Van Gogh's use of white and yellow creates a spiral effect and draws attention to the sky. Vertical lines such as the cypress tree and church tower softly break up the composition without retracting from the powerful night sky depicted in Starry Night. Vincent van Gogh´s choice of dark blues and greens were complemented with touches of mint green showing the reflection of the moon. The buildings in the centre of the painting are small blocks of yellows, oranges, and greens with a dash of red to the left of the church. The dominance of blue in Starry Night is balanced by the orange of the night sky elements. Van Gogh paints the rich colors of the night and this corresponds with the true character of this Starry Night, whereby colors are used to suggest emotion.

Starry Night Use of Light

Van Gogh´s passion for nighttime is evident in the Starry Night painting, where the powerful sky sits above the quiet town. It seems that van Gogh is contrasting life and death with luminous stars and a gloomy, peaceful village. The main light sources are the bright stars and crescent moon.

Starry Night Mood, Tone and Emotion

There are various interpretations of Starry Night and one is that this canvas depicts hope. It seems that van Gogh was showing that even with a dark night such as this it is still possible to see light in the windows of the houses. Furthermore, with shining stars filling the sky, there is always light to guide you. It seems that van Gogh was finally being cured of his illness and had essentially found his heaven. He also knew that in death he would be at peace and further portrays this by using bold colors in the Starry Night painting. In a letter to his brother, Theo, van Gogh comments: "I should not be surprised if you liked the Starry Night and the Ploughed Fields, there is a greater quiet about them than in the other canvases. " Later in the letter he makes reference to Leo Tolstoys book My Religion and its lack of belief in resurrection. Such fleeting mentions of religion echoed van Goghs feelings towards the subject at this time; he could neither forget it nor totally accept it. Despite this, his use of the word 'quiet' and reference to Tolstoys book indicates that the night sky made him feel calm and brought to mind eternity. Starry Night shows the vast power of nature and the church spire and cypress tree - representing man and nature - both point to the heavens.

Starry Night Brushstroke

In Starry Night van Gogh´s unique, thick brush strokes are very much obvious and it´s possible that his severe attacks further dramatized his brush work. However, there is a consistency to his technique that adds even more depth as well as a rich texture to this work of art.

Descriptive Of The Starry Night

The Starry Night is one of the most famous paintings in the history of western culture. It was painted by Vincent Van Gogh in 1889 and is recognized as his finest work. This artwork is oil on canvas and is currently in the Museum of Modern Art, New York. An interesting fact about the artwork is that it is painted from Van Gogh’s memory, unlike his other works which are painted outdoor. This painting is the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Reme-de-Provence. The view includes the starry sky, cypress tree, village, and hills. “This morning I saw the countryside from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big. “wrote Van Gogh. The first thing I notice in The Starry Night is the sky in the background because it stands out the most. There are many shining stars, the big bright crescent moon and wind swirls painted throughout the blue sky using contrasting colours like orange, yellow and white. Through the swirling wind, thick curve lines are flowing across the sky to form this spiral-like formation. Eleven yellow stars which look like huge fireballs lighten the whole art piece by contrasting with the cool blue, dark night sky that contains a variety of shades of blue and grey. There is also the crescent moon at the top right-hand corner that is bigger and emits an even brighter light compared to the rest of the stars. Next, I notice the giant cypress tree on the left side because of how its proportion is a lot bigger than everything else in the rest of the painting. It blocks out part of the sky and the village located at the bottom. The village houses are tiny and painted in the shade. It is compact and is close to the hills and its surrounding objects which makes the houses blend in and become unnoticeable. Many elements and principles are portrayed in this art piece. To begin with, the first thing I see and grabs my attention is the swirling wind. Rhythm and Movement can be seen and it creates a flow to the rest of the painting in which leads your eyes to follow along the path of the swirl and brings you to the next subject. It allowed me to view the art piece up to down and left to right, as I started from the swirl to the stars

Starry Night a Paint by Vincent Van Gogh Essay

• 11 Works Cited

During Vincent’s time at the Saint-Rémy sanatorium, he painted one of his renowned landscape paintings, Starry Night in 1889. The choice of medium used was oil paint where Vincent famously displayed his impasto technique on the hemp material canvas. He wrote to his brother about his inspiration stating, “This morning I saw the country from my window a long time before sunrise, with nothing but the morning star, which looked very big” . Hence, you can infer that Starry Night was painted from the view of Vincent’s room where the background of the composition depicts the night scenery of a small and peaceful village, which juxtaposes the movements of the brightly lit sky. However, Vincent did not exactly follow what he saw from his window but painted from what he saw in his imagination, following the likes of Gauguin.

Compare And Contrast The Starry Night And Van Gogh

There are different understandings of Starry Night and one of it is that this canvas portrays trust. It appears that van Gogh was demonstrating that even with a dull night, for example, this is still conceivable to see a light in the windows of the houses. Moreover, with sparkling stars filling the sky, there is constantly light to guide you. It appears that van Gogh was, at last, being cured of his disease and had basically discovered his paradise. He likewise realized that in death he would find a sense of contentment and further depicts this by utilizing striking hues as a part of the Starry Night painting. In "The potato eaters" He painted the five figures in earth hues – 'something like the shade of a truly dusty potato, unpeeled obviously'. The message of the work of art was more vital to Van Gogh than right life systems or specialized flawlessness. He was exceptionally satisfied with the outcome: yet his work of art drew extensive feedback since its hues were so dull and the figures loaded with slip-ups. Van Gogh's enthusiasm for evening time is obvious in "the Starry Night" painting, where the effective sky sits over the calm town. It appears that van Gogh is standing out life and demise from iridescent stars and a melancholy, serene

The Starry Night By Vincent Van Gogh

The Starry Night, Vincent expresses a turbulent sky with bright intensity of moon and stars. In the foreground, one sees an overproportioned cypress tree. It is dark and lingers to the left. The background shows a small, quiet village and a church in the outskirts; perhaps reflecting the society around him going on about their everyday lives. The canvas evokes strong emotions with its use of movement within the painting. The sky is a mixture of blue and yellow hues. The calming of the blue defies the energy of yellow. White and black are emphasizing the rolling movement within the sky. Calming blues reflect the quietness of the village and church in the background. The dark cypress tree to the left reminds me of darkness with a moody solemnest. Cypress trees at the time were associated with graveyards. This may be expressing what overwhelming concern of death, and the struggles he faced.

Summary Of Natucket By Kat Hannah

The first thing that catches the attention of the audience is the boat containing two people in the lower center of the painting. The characters are noticeable due to their white clothing which contrasts from the dull gray of the sky and water. Another noticeable aspect of the painting is the line dividing the water and the cloudy sky, which is not straight and fades at certain points. Lastly, Hannah uses simple shapes like the rectangular sky and water, the triangular boat, and the round, long shaped people in the boat.

Jos De Momper The Starry Night

The Starry Night is believed by many to be the view from his room while staying at an asylum in Saint Remy. Van Gogh has used many objects within the painting to display his feelings; a church steeple rises up in the middle front of the painting possibly to reflex his emotions for religion. One may even view the stars and night sky

The Meaning Of Van Gogh's Starry Night

By taking a look at Van Gogh’s Starry Night, and further researching into it, we are able to notice the meaning behind it. Van Gogh’s first creations were earth-toned scenes of nature and peasants. However, after his well-known breakdown, he was put in an asylum, and his art style changed severely (National Gallery of Art.). One of the paintings he created in this period of poor mental health was the famous Starry Night, a painting made with oil on canvas (MoMA Learning) with heavy brushstrokes that, in my opinion, look similar to the ocean waves. The most common interpretation of the meaning of this painting is associated with Van Gogh’s isolation and insanity. However, the meaning of this painting is deeper than that. Each detail in Starry

Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night

In 1889, Vincent Van Gogh with oil created a classic picture named "Starry Night". He painted his own night during the hardest time of his life. At the time, he was detained in a psychiatric hospital room. Not to be out, he drew during the daytime, based on what he remembered. Van Gogh only mentions "Starry Night" twice in letters to his brother, which made the drawing became more mysterious and curious.

What Is The Color Pallet

The elements of art are quite splendid and balanced in this piece, creating an example of a solid piece of artwork that follows the principles of design. The green and yellow colors of this piece blend together perfectly as to create a great visual pleasure, and the hues of blue and black in the background emphasize the yellows and greens in the foreground, creating a great blend of color. The color pallet is somewhat contrasting as there are green and yellow hues as well as darker colors such as black. Texturing is done quite nicely in this piece as well, with the stars and the ground being great examples of this. The stars look very fluffy and extravagant which couldn’t be exemplified without a brush, and the ground looks very much like a

Starry Night By Vincent Van Gogh

Starry Night is notoriously famous and is probably Vincent Van Gogh’s most well-known piece of art, but that is all for a reason. Van Gogh very unique curving lines throughout the work and they create a flow to the painting that is very somber and fascinating. The line quality of the work seems whimsical in ways yet intentional, the lines are not pressed in very hard on the painting, you can tell because there are color differences within the lines meaning Van Gogh made casual strokes to create the lines, yet at the same time they are definitely intentional as Van Gogh uses the color variations to combine with one another creating a very colorful arrangement on the canvas. All of the colors may be mellow and cool, but they are all very unique and different in their own ways. Van Gogh uses the actual stars in Starry Night to create a stark contrast to the rest of the scene. The stars shine bright yellow and orange in the night sky, drawing the viewers gaze and attention. Yet at the same time there is an ominous black object in the foreground of the painting, the object is said to be a cypress tree but it is no less interpreted for its possible deeper meanings. The painting uses these stars as the acting natural light for the painting and this is why the rest of the painting uses colors that are so cool, this is because Van Gogh wants clear contrasting values between the stars and dimly lit town. Van Gogh uses irregular shapes throughout the skyline and hills in the background

Art Analysis: Starry Nights By Vincent Van Gogh

The painting represents a village under a starry night and the first thing most observers get from the painting is the feel of motion. Looking at the swirls and movement in the sky you can almost hear the wind blowing and see the clouds moving about. This movement is carried on into the land part of the painting where the distant fields seem to move in the wind too.

Starry Night is a famous painting by Vincent Van Gogh. Starry Night was constructed in 1889. At the time of his existence, Van Gogh was not well known. Van Gogh only sold one painting during his lifetime, and only became popular after his death like many other artists at the time. To fully understand this painting, one must know the personal life/struggles of the artist himself.

The Starry Night is one of Van Gogh’s finest works, displayed in the Museum of Modern Art, New York since 1941. Van Gogh during his stay at the Asylum, is where he began producing some of his well-known paintings of his career, and The Starry Night is one of them. He was permitted with a ground floor studio which he produced his paintings, but The Starry Night was the view he saw from his room which he stayed in but because he painted downstairs in the studio he was permitted with, so some of The Starry Night was painted from memory. When Van Gogh, was painting The Starry Night which had a more powerful, emotional impact than his other works due to the attacks, and emotional breakdowns, he was going through during his stay at the Asylum. The Starry Night is more about Van Gogh’s imagination because at his stay in the Asylum, when he had wrote a letter to his brother Theo which said ‘’through the iron-barred window. I can see an enclosed square of wheat…above which in the morning, I watch the sun rise in all its glory’’. As stated in the letter by Van Gogh to his brother where he talks about the iron-barred window, which is not in the painting and is the main focus because of how he says ‘’Square of wheat…’’ which shows he only saw parts of things separated by the

Compare And Contrast Starry Night And Stary Night

Starry Night Over the Rhone is a painting that follows the same styling of painting of many other of Van Gogh’s paintings. The painting itself portrayed the scene of a view near Van Gogh’s house at the time. In the foreground, there is the river with its dark water and a couple taking a romantic walk around the beaches under the night sky. In the background, Van Gogh paints the city across the river as a minor part of the painting, putting more emphasis on the street lamps within the city, as if the lights the city holds are the same as the stars in the night sky. Finally, as the name suggests, the starry night is in full effect in this painting, with major emphasis one the stars. He would even go as far as to paint the stars massively disproportionate to their real size and change the local astronomy in the painting to add to its serene setting. To match Van Gogh’s style, it contains broad brush strokes for much of the painting, combining many dark blues and even blacks to create the river Rhone and a starry sky. However, in contrast to the night and the river, he uses

Expressionism Of Vincent Van Gogh's The Starrry Night

‘The Starry Night’ depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, with the inclusion of an idealized town. The sky is overflowing field of churning energy and contrasts with the silent town below. The village he portrays in ‘Starry Night’ is rather invented and the church spire reminisces his homeland in the Netherlands. Van Gogh includes the addition of a cypress tree, which is generally found within cemeteries and is associated with grieving. This tree connects the earth and sky, and this could replicate the artist´s own thoughts of death ‘that death is the destination of life´s journey’. Beneath the igniting stars, the village is a place of quiet order. The sky’s texture and planes of the buildings are brashly marked in contours of expressive brushstrokes which, in spite of their feverish vigour, hold together as a tightly drawn landscape. The rush strokes in the sky swirl, each singular spot of colour swelling with the clouds around the moon and stars. On the cypress tree, they curve with the movement and direction of the branches. In

The first thing I saw when looking at the painting was the night sky, which occupies most of the background. Its swirling lines appear to be in a spiral like formation across the background. There are eleven yellow stars that look like big fireballs that blend with the blue sky. The night sky appears in different shades of blue and grey. Then the moon at the top right shows

Related Topics

• Vincent van Gogh
• The Starry Night
• Museum of Modern Art

the starry night Essay example

The Starry Night At first look Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” seems like a painting of the night sky over a small town. Van Gogh was an incredible painter, and was able to make his paintings look very realistic. “The Starry Night” is no exception. Van Gogh uses artistic elements, such as the colors he choose, brushstrokes, and images to help make the paint look realistic, and appeal to emotions of viewers. These images and elements are used to give the viewer of the painting a feeling of hope or safety in times of darkness. The first thing that is noticed when looking at the painting is the stars in the night sky. Van Gogh has painted night skies previously to painting a starry night, by doing so he was able to almost perfect how the night skies looked. The use of the bright colors against the cool and dark colors of the sky gives it an extremely realistic look. Van Gogh uses the stars to show the light that is in darkness. Although the night sky is dark, the moon and the stars help provide light in the night. For centuries stars were used as a way for travelers to find their way in the dark. Just like actual stars, the stars in The Starry Night appear to be guiding the viewer to the village. This can be seen as hope, because although it is dark, there are stars to help guide you. The village in the painting is seen as being lit up and almost glowing. He uses the warm colors against the dark sky to give the viewer a sense of warmth and safety. Because of the colors of the stars against the night sky and the town in the background, Van Gogh is able to give the painting a realistic look and is able to give the viewer a feeling of hope. Other than the colors he chooses, Van Gogh’s brushstrokes and method of painting allows the painting to be realistic. The circular brushstrokes around the stars give the appearance of the stars radiating light. This also lets the stars stick out from the sky because two different strokes are used. The swirling strokes in the sky also stick out of the sky. The difference in brushstrokes grabs the viewers’ attention and appears to be leading to the town. As you look into the back ground of the painting, the layering of the pain over each other gives the painting depth the straight brushstrokes on the hill also help give the illusion of distance. Van Gogh layers the painting this way to give the viewer a sense of being on a hill looking down on a village. The bush on the left of the image also helps add dimension to the painting. Because of Van Gogh’s method and brushstrokes, he can more effectively appeal to the emotion of the viewer. The town in the distance can be seen as an image of safety. From the Show More

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The Artist’s State of Mind: Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” Analytical Essay

Introduction.

The painting captures similar themes when analyzed at surface level as well as in relation to the artist’s life. Van Gogh was schizophrenic, yet he managed to make beautiful art. Starring Night is a painting that epitomizes restlessness or turbulence; this was a reflection of the artist’s state of mind.

Description of the painting

An initial observation of the painting reveals an expansive sky; it accounts for most of the space in the painting. Van Gogh probably called the piece ‘Starring Night’ because bright stars are a prominent feature. White and yellow light surround them while a glaring moon also stands alongside them.

In between the moon and the stars are swirls which are a combination of dark and light colors; some are black, others green, yellow, dark and light blue, and to some extent white. However, the predominant color is blue, which is the color of the sky. Underneath the sky, one can see a village where some houses, hills as well as other physical features are located.

The hills are so tall that they appear to merge with the sky. The painting also has a tree that also stretches to the sky; it is the tallest feature in the village. Gogh’s brushstrokes in the hills as well as the trees face upwards, as though to suggest that the sky is what matters. The pine tree is black, dark green and brown. Since this feature is at the foreground of the painting, it affects one’s overall perception of it. A few houses can be seen clustering next to each other.

No human beings are in the Starring Night; this may probably be because most of them were asleep. The most outstanding building is a church, whose spire also points to the sky (Museum Of Modern Art 1). Overall, the interaction of the colors, lines and paintings in the picture gives an impression of restlessness.

Background of the painting

It is likely that the theme of turbulence and restlessness reflected Van Gogh’s state of mind. The artist was mentally ill and even did this work of art in an asylum. He struggled with so many aspects of his life. For instance, a special lady rejected him and told him that she would never marry him. He was thrown out of art galleries in Paris.

The artist had an abysmal financial situation since he depended on his brother, Theo, for sustenance. His many career changes were fruitless, and he was not making any money as an artist. People misunderstood Gogh; members of his township Arles wanted to ban him from the village after he developed an ear infection.

He did not even have friends because he always embarrassed or argued with them. Clearly, Van Gogh was an isolated man who could not find comfort in many things. His experiences in the past led him to a turbulent state of mind. This situation was so serious that it manifested in schizophrenia. One can thus assert that the painting was a reflection of what the artist was going through in his mind.

Alternatively, the theme of restlessness may also have been indicative of the dissatisfaction with his situation at the asylum and the longing for normalcy. Perhaps Gogh wanted to go out into the Starring Night and enjoy all the wonderful visuals first hand. However, all he could do was admire the view from his window or use supervised visits around the garden in the asylum (Brooks 29).

The effect of lines and color

Lines in any work of art show motion. Therefore, when one looks at the way lines in the sky swirl around the moon and the stars, one thinks of movement. Since most of the lines in the painting are not heading in one direction, then one can deduce a mood of restlessness. The choice of color in the painting is also an indication of the painter’s mood. Warm colors, like yellow, are only present in minimal quantities.

The most predominant color is blue, which is a cool color. This color is primarily responsible for the darkness and mystery of the piece. Nonetheless, the blue color has a dark hue, in that it is not the typical sky blue. This one mirrors the color of the sky at night as it is blue-black. If the artist had left the sky uninterrupted by dark lines, then it would have given off a serene or even dreamy feel. The mixture of the dark and cool colors in the form of lines and shades is what contributes to a feeling of turbulence (MacDonald 15).

As mentioned earlier, the colors in the picture are bold and captivating. The moon and starts each have bright hues that are hard to ignore. In one of his letters to his sister, he asserted that the stars had a peculiar brilliance, which “warranted for more than white dots on a blue-black surface” (Van Gogh Museum 76). One may deduce that this artist saw things in a different way through the use of color. Most artists in his era were realists, and his countrymen were quite conservative in their use of color.

Most realists relied on pale color and soft, thin lines to create texture. However, Gogh created a new approach to texture by using bold brush strokes. The artists did not paint to please others but he stuck to what he felt was right. Vincent’s preference for bold color was something new and refreshing. Even the way he drew stars was quite unique. The palate in ‘Starring Night’ was substantially different from the palate combinations of other French artists like Millet.

In fact, Gogh started out with contemporary influences but quickly changed after he discovered Japanese art. Japanese art had a profound influence on the painter. The artist was defiant and brave in his work since he was willing to pursue trajectories that others shunned. These color choices and the artists’ past life prove that he was indeed a restless individual. He was not satisfied with the status quo and sought ways to explore new avenues.

Choice of features

Van Gogh was a spiritual man; in fact, he was so committed to his vocation that it turned into an obsession. This was part of the reason why the artist was sent out of the mission school. Additionally, Gogh’s father was a spiritual minister. When the artist tried to follow in his footsteps, he failed dismally. In the painting, the spire of the church building is the tallest man-made feature. However, its height comes nowhere near that of the cypress tree.

The tip of this tree makes contact with sky. One can interpret these two features in light of Gogh’s life. He may have sought solace in the church, but did not find it there. His experiences at the mission may have shown him that one cannot find spiritual fulfillment in other men. In the painting, the church is a man-made creation. Even though its builders tried to make it as tall as possible, they could not reach the sky.

One may construe the sky to symbolize the heavens. Therefore, Gogh was saying that man’s efforts were not sufficient to establish contact with the heavens. On the other hand, if one sought God in nature, one was likely to find him. The cypress tree was tall enough to reach the skies. One may deduce that the author could not find support in a spiritual establishment. He may have been criticizing the existing religious order.

Once again, the theme of restlessness comes into play because he is not happy with where he is spiritually, so he must look for answers elsewhere. In line with these sentiments is the fact that the hills appear to face the opposite direction of the church spire. They mirrored a real physical feature in Gogh’s country; they were called Les Alpilles Mountains. Their opposition to the prevailing order may be regarded as proof of the artists’ opinion about the church.

The manner in which the images in the diagram have been represented is indicative of the theme of restlessness as well. The stars seem to be bursting out of the sky. Furthermore, the cypress tree looks like it is touching the sky. Even the moon looks like it is covered by a yellow ball. Clearly, these are not conventional representations of the night sky. An artist who was faithful to nature would have revised his choice of color, lines and technique to reflect the actual appearance of the sky; however, Gogh was not such an artist (Boime 55).

He was rebellious, and when he had a point to make, he did not hesitate to make it. His use of proportions and the way he drew was a reflection of the artist’s style. Gogh was not satisfied with a mere imitation of nature. This means he was agitated by this approach, so he chose another one that would not reflect contemporary work. Therefore, his approach to art was one that caused turbulence.

One of the artists’ centerpieces in the painting is the cypress tree. A lot can be deduced from this choice in features that reflects the state of turbulence in his mind. During Gogh’s time, Cypress trees were common in cemeteries. Additionally, the tree seems to connect the earth and the heavens.

One may assert that his selection of the tree was indicative of his ideas about death. The painter was at a place where he could not decide whether he wanted to live or die. By choosing a centerpiece that is found in cemeteries, Gogh was thinking about death. The tree touched the heavens because when one dies, one leaves earth and goes to the heavens.

The artist was thinking about death but was ambivalent about it. It is likely that the intense movement in the painting reflected this indecision concerning whether he should live or die. There was turbulence in his conscious about the matter. Later, the artist made up his mind about death and committed suicide. He chose death over a life of misery. At the time of painting ‘Starring Night’, the cypress tree reflected the confusion in his conscious about death.

Overall, the piece has so many features to analyze that it is possible to become overwhelmed with the process. Trees, hills, houses, stars, the moon, the sky and other features are present in the painting. One must determine why the artist selected so many features. It is likely that he would only convey his message if he amalgamated all these aspects together.

However, the circular motions and the spiral effect in the sky are what carry the theme. Therefore, the point of emphasis in the painting gives an indication of what one should focus on; in this case it is turbulence.

Painting technique

From the image, one can deduce that the artist used decisive bush strokes to color his piece. This practice was not common in his society. Impressionist artists relied on a method of drawing that involved joining several dots together to form the impression of color. However, Gogh got bored of this style when living in Paris. He devised his own method of painting that was quite different from the rest. These decisive brush strokes contribute towards the turbulence of the piece.

It would have been quite difficult to convey that sentiment if the author utilized the impressionist method in ‘Starring Night’. The decisiveness of the brush strokes was crucial in creating a feeling of chaos or turbulence. The circular lines needed to be in unison with another in order to have this effect. Using joined dotes, like the impressionists, would have been insufficient to create this effect (Hulsker 93).

Starring night as a work of art carries forward the theme of restlessness. This is evident in the artist’s use of color. He mixes cool colors with dark ones in a manner that creates this mood. Additionally, his painting technique which involves decisive brush strokes also testifies to the turbulence of the piece.

His choice of objects and emphasis reflects the turbulence in the artist’s mind. The cypress tree was an indication of his confusion about death. The unconventional stars were an indication of the turbulence in his life. He was also unconventional like the stars, and this led to his isolation. This painting’s theme is an expression of the artists’ life.

Works Cited

Boime, Albert. Van Gogh: Starry Night: Art history in detail . NY: Voyager, 1996. Print.

Brooks, David. Starry Night . Amsterdam: Brooks, 2012. Print.

Hulsker, Jan. The complete Van Gogh: paintings, drawings, sketches . NY: Random House, 1986. Print.

MacDonald, Mary. “Who was Vincent?” Artist’s Monthly 1.6(1990): 15. Print.

Museum Of Modern Art. 2013. Vincent Van Gogh: The Starring Night, June 1889 . 2013. Web. https://www.moma.org/collection/works/79802

Van Gogh Museum. 2013. Vincent Van Gogh letters . 2013. Web. http://vangoghletters.org/vg/letters/let782/letter.html

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More about Descriptive Essay About The Night Sky

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Starry night

Vincent Van Gogh Painted named Starry Night was painted with the use of oil mediums in 1889 while he was in Saint Remy seeking treatment in a mental asylum. Although when this piece was painted it was based on his memory. This piece is a symbolic landscape full of movement, energy and light. It is CACM by 92 CM and this painting alongside Mona Lisa is used to decorate more bedrooms around the world than any other image in the history of art. It is one of those iconic images, that have become visual click©s due to mass production and consequently deserve a closer look to rediscover their power.

It was based on a constellation rearrangement that Van Gogh had seen earlier on in the night sky of Provence. Starry night is perhaps one of his most famous artworks ever and is one of the most replicated artworks around the worlds. The night sky depicted by Van Gogh in this painting is full of whirling clouds, shining stars and a bright crescent moon on the far right of the painting. The elements ensure fluidity and this piece is not a happy piece nor a dark one as it has different tones throughout the whole piece.

The Church and town symbolism unity as they are all together under the beautiful night sky, the dark object in the foreground represents isolation a darkness that is present and the most noticeable shining stars and moon represent hope and peace in dark times. Van Gogh has carefully placed the town in the lower center of the piece because even though it isn't the main focus of the whole artwork it is very carefully huddled around a church which connects into the sky to draw your eye from the flowing lines into the lit up town.

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The little huddled town creates a sense of seclusion and I would not expect this town to be full of crime or noise. Even if it was, this is not what the artist depicted. What he did depict was a town, some houses with the peace of sleep. Van Gogh lived in a little town Just on the outskirts of Saint Remy and I believe that this town swell as the cypress tree and stars all relate back to his life pre suicide. I believe that all three are connected and the town symbolizes unity and gives an impression of isolation but also how much we have devolved because in one part we have a creation of man and in the other a creation of nature.

There are various interpretations of Starry Night and one is that the canvas depicts pope. It seems that van Gogh was showing that even with a dark night such as this it is still possible to see light in the windows of the houses. Furthermore, with shining stars filling the sky, there is always light to guide you. First, it comes across as a sort of castle, but then you get the impression that it is a plant of some sort that is growing toward sky.

As you look closer you realize that the mysterious shape is not made of black lines, but dark green, with hints of blues and blacks in its midst. This object is said to be a cypress tree and they usually symbolism death as they are most molly found in graveyards. It is possible that Vantage intensifies himself with the looming cypress tree in the foreground. The large cypress in Starry Night is arguably the most eye catching but at the same time ambiguous "thing" in the painting.

Mostly because of its size and the way its dark and almost sinister presence contrasts to heavily with the brightly colored stars. I relate Van Gogh with this tree as it seems that even though he was cured of his illness there was no peace, so in death he knew that he would be at piece. Van Gogh was aware that his Starry Night composition was somewhat surreal. Although the features are exaggerated, this is a scene we can all relate to, and also one that most individuals feel comfortable and at ease with.

This sky keeps the viewer's eyes moving about the painting, following the curves and creating a visual dot to dot with the stars. This movement keeps the onlooker involved in the painting while the other factors take hold. The rich colors used by Van Gogh almost makes it look as through it is smudged but if you zoom in and take a closer look they are Just different textures from thick to thin. This is basically the only light in this painting as t is surrounded by bright stars and the crescent moon.

I believe it subsidizes the light that guides everybody through darkness as the cypress tree looms nearby. Also how our world is so beautiful above and sometimes we get caught up in our busy lives that to take time to appreciate a beautiful collation of stars and the sky itself is hard but right inferno of all of us. Beauty is always there among darkness but it's our choice if we choose to appreciate it. It seems that van Gogh was finally being cured of his illness and had essentially found his heaven. He also knew that in death he would be at peace.

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How To Describe Night In Writing (100 Best Words + Examples)

As a writer, I know all too well the challenges that come with describing the essence of the night.

That’s why I’ve put together this guide to help you master the art of writing about the night.

Here is how to describe night in writing:

Describe night in writing by using vivid sensory details, metaphors, and character reactions to evoke the atmosphere, emotions, and complexities of the nocturnal world. Shift night imagery for unforgettable storytelling in different genres.

Keep reading to learn over 100 words and examples of how to describe night in writing.

Understanding the Intricacies of Nighttime Descriptions

Table of Contents

When it comes to understanding nighttime descriptions, it’s essential to recognize the intricacies of night.

And to develop a keen eye for the subtle details that set it apart from the day.

As daylight gradually fades, elements like the absence of light, the emergence of shadows, and the contrast between sounds and silence become crucial for painting a vivid picture of the night.

Night has the unique ability to transform any setting into a canvas for significant character actions or revelations. It lends itself to engaging the senses and conjuring emotions that resonate with the human experience. To effectively capture the essence of night, a writer must skilfully navigate the intricacies of this complex landscape.

Different writing techniques for night scenes can bring to life the rich tapestry of the nocturnal world, fostering a connection with readers and inviting them to immerse themselves in the story.

Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:

• Observe how objects and characters cast shadows under the moonlight, creating a play of light and darkness that can heighten the drama and atmosphere of a scene.
• Consider the unique sounds of the night, such as the hoot of an owl, the rustle of leaves, or the whisper of the wind as it weaves through branches.
• Pay attention to the interplay between the senses and the emotions of the night, with silence often evoking a profound sense of awe, mystery, or solitude.

Mastering the art of nighttime descriptions requires both an eye for detail and an understanding of its inherent metaphorical value.

By seamlessly weaving the literal and the metaphorical, a writer can craft a gripping night scene that transports readers into the heartbeat of the story’s world.

The Role of Atmosphere in Crafting Night Scenes

The atmosphere is pivotal in night scene descriptions, guiding the reader’s emotions and setting the narrative tone.

Vivid sensory experiences help in concocting an immersive atmosphere that is as tangible to the reader as the darkness itself.

In this section, we will explore the importance of sensory details and emotions in nighttime narratives, and how they intertwine with our inner thoughts, making night scenes richer and more engaging.

Setting the Tone with Sensory Details

Sensory details can capture the essence of a night scene, evoking the night’s quiet majesty.

They provide a backdrop for reflective moments and draw the reader into the story using the five senses. Consider some sensory details that you can use to bring your night scene to life:

• Visual: The moon casting a soft, silver glow on a quiet street.
• Auditory: The distant hoot of an owl or the haunting whisper of the wind.
• Olfactory: The crisp, cool air carrying the faint scent of fresh blossoms.
• Touch: The dampness of dew-covered grass beneath the character’s feet.
• Taste: The character savoring a warm drink on a chilly night.

By including these sensory details, you can set the tone of your night scenes and create a vivid, atmospheric setting that envelops the reader.

Emotions and the Night: Reflecting Inner Thoughts

The interplay of emotions and nighttime is a powerful narrative device.

Night can mirror a character’s inner thoughts and serve as a metaphor for the turmoil, tranquility, or mystery they experience.

It is a period of contemplation, amplifying the character’s emotional state, whether it’s the euphoria of falling stars or the agitation of shadows that resemble past fears.

To harness the emotional power of night, consider these tips:

• Align sensory impressions with the character’s psychological state. For example, the sharp coldness of the night could reflect their inner turmoil.
• Contrast the night’s serenity with the character’s emotional upheaval, heightening the impact of their internal struggles.
• Utilize the darkness as a catalyst for introspection, prompting the character to dig deeper into their thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately, by aligning sensory impressions with psychological states, night scenes become a medium to delve deeper into the corners of the character’s psyche.

Combine sensory details and emotions to create atmospheric night settings that resonate with readers.

Utilizing a Rich Vocabulary to Portray Night

Effectively portraying a night in writing relies heavily on a rich vocabulary.

The proper selection of descriptive words not only evokes different shades of night but also conveys various emotions and atmospheres. Whether describing the color of the sky or the feel of nocturnal air, careful word choice can transport readers into the night scene you create.

Incorporating a range of sensory words and varying degrees of specificity can enhance your nighttime descriptions.

For example, simple but potent words like  quiet  set the tone, while more specific color descriptors such as  crimson  or  azure  paint a distinct picture of the night in the reader’s mind.

Below is a table showcasing different words and phrases that can be used to portray various aspects of the night:

Tapping into this diverse vocabulary allows you to craft vivid and immersive night scenes.

Each word carries unique connotations that can resonate with the reader, enhancing their connection to the narrative.

When used effectively, these descriptive words for the night can transform your writing, painting a vibrant picture of the night and drawing readers further into your story.

30 Best Words to Describe Night in Writing

When it comes to describing night scenes in writing, the choice of words plays a crucial role in painting a vivid picture.

Here are 30 of the best words to help you capture the essence of the night:

• Star-studded

30 Best Phrases to Describe Night in Writing

Crafting a captivating night scene often involves using descriptive phrases that evoke the atmosphere and emotions of the nocturnal world.

Here are 30 of the best phrases to help you master the art of describing night in writing:

• “The moon cast a soft, silver glow.”
• “Stars adorned the velvety sky.”
• “Shadows danced in the moonlight.”
• “The night was cloaked in mystery.”
• “A serene, moonlit meadow stretched before us.”
• “The darkness whispered secrets.”
• “Nocturnal creatures stirred in the silence.”
• “The night sky was a canvas of stars.”
• “Moonbeams kissed the earth.”
• “The night held its breath.”
• “Darkness enveloped everything.”
• “The stars blinked like diamonds.”
• “The moon hung low, a glowing orb.”
• “The night was alive with whispers.”
• “A blanket of stars covered the sky.”
• “The night air was cool and crisp.”
• “Shadows played tricks on the senses.”
• “The night exuded a sense of enchantment.”
• “The world was bathed in moonlight.”
• “Silence settled like a shroud.”
• “The night was a tapestry of shadows.”
• “The stars shimmered with a celestial grace.”
• “The moonlight painted everything in silver.”
• “The night was a realm of dreams.”
• “The darkness held its secrets close.”
• “The night sky was a sea of stars.”
• “The night whispered of ancient mysteries.”
• “The moon’s glow was a guiding light.”
• “Shadows clung to the edges of reality.”
• “The night was a time for reflection.”

Writing Techniques: Going Beyond the Visuals

When crafting an engaging nighttime scene, writers must venture beyond the visuals to captivate the reader fully.

Using sounds and the sense of touch is essential for developing a rich, multi-dimensional narrative.

This section delves into incorporating sounds and silence for dramatic effect and the touch and texture of darkness in writing.

Incorporating Sounds and Silence for Effect

The sounds of night can have powerful effects on the atmosphere and emotional impact of a scene.

Thundering roars, rustling leaves, or the sudden absence of sound can all contribute to the mood of a scene. These auditory cues help create a vivid, believable setting for readers to immerse themselves in.

Consider incorporating the following techniques to represent the sounds of night and the role of silence in your writing:

• Use auditory details  to paint a fuller picture of the environment.
• Utilize silence  as a storytelling device, heightening suspense or emphasizing a moment of reflection.
• Experiment with sound  to create contrast and tension within a scene.

Silence in writing can be as impactful as the sounds themselves, emphasizing the stark difference between the quiet of the night and the sudden eruption of noise that disrupts the calm.

The Touch and Texture of Darkness

Describing touch at night is another essential aspect of crafting a compelling nighttime scene.

The tactile experience of the night is as evocative as its visual counterpart, with the cool breeze raising goosebumps, the damp fog clinging to the skin, and the unsettling sensation of unseen objects brushing against a character.

When done effectively, these tactile descriptions in writing can make the darkness feel like a comforting shroud or an ominous presence looming over the narrative.

The following list includes tips on including touch and texture in your writing:

• Describe the night’s touch  as it interacts with the character’s skin, clothing, and surroundings.
• Highlight the texture of darkness , including the roughness or smoothness of surfaces, the dampness of fog, or a character’s emotional response to the touch of night.
• Consider how the sense of touch  contributes to character development and advances the story’s plot.

Colorful Language: Painting the Night in Words

Descriptive language is essential in painting the night scene, employing shades like “scarlet,” “indigo,” or “emerald” to depict the sky’s canvas.

Such language transforms the scene into a vivid tableau, enabling readers to visualize the unique hues and tones the night unfolds.

Descriptive words for colors like “burgundy” or “magenta” not only portray the scene but also add emotional weight, enhancing the reader’s connection to the narrative.

Let us explore the variety of words that can be employed to describe the myriad shades and hues of the night sky:

Maximizing Impact with Metaphors and Similes

Metaphors and similes are essential tools in the arsenal of a writer, allowing them to create rich and expressive night descriptions.

These literary devices make it possible for writers to craft relatable, evocative scenes that draw powerful parallels between nighttime and universal experiences, enriching the narrative and fostering deeper connections with the reader’s own memories and emotions.

Comparing Nighttime to Universal Experiences

Similes and metaphors have the power to transform ordinary descriptions into captivating and imaginative prose.

They can liken the dark to a velvet blanket that envelops the world in its gentle embrace or compare stars to a multitude of diamonds scattered across the heavens, casting their ethereal glow upon the earth below. By relating nighttime to familiar experiences, writers can breathe life into their descriptions, making them truly memorable and vivid.

When employing metaphors and similes in your writing, consider the following examples:

• The night sky unfolded like an ebony tapestry, with the constellations embroidered in silver threads.
• Shadows danced and flickered on the walls, creating a haunting ballet of light and dark.
• The moon’s radiance carved a shimmering path across the water, mirroring the celestial bridge found in ancient myths.

Keep in mind the importance of balance when using metaphors and similes in your writing.

Overuse can lead to cluttered prose and detract from the impact of your descriptions. Use these devices sparingly and thoughtfully, ensuring they effectively enhance your narrative rather than overwhelming it.

Character Reactions and the Night: A Dynamic Tool

Exploring character reactions to the night serves as a dynamic storytelling tool in writing.

A character’s interaction with the night can range from a confrontation with their fears to a moment of serenity or revelation. Emotional responses to the night are as diverse as the characters themselves, allowing for the exploration of profound personal journeys influenced by the cloak of darkness.

These reactions can serve as a pivot for character development or as key moments that drive the plot forward.

In order to successfully incorporate character reactions to night into a story, consider the following aspects:

• Understanding the character’s background and personality, in order to establish how they might react to the night.
• Identifying how the night setting can influence each character’s inner emotions and thought processes.
• Developing a natural progression of the character’s journey, from initial reactions to ultimate revelations or actions.
• Utilizing sensory details, such as sights, sounds, and textures, to heighten the emotional response and connection of the character to their surroundings.
• Employing narrative devices, such as flashbacks or introspection, to delve deeper into the character’s past experiences and how they relate to their current situation.

Notable authors have expertly utilized character reactions to night to enrich their narratives.

For example, in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s  The Great Gatsby , the nighttime setting serves as a backdrop for Gatsby’s extravagant parties, highlighting his desires and insecurities.

In contrast, the darkness of night in Charlotte Brontë’s  Jane Eyre  signifies Jane’s feelings of isolation and despair as she struggles to navigate societal expectations and discover her own identity.

The table below outlines various emotional responses to the night and how they can contribute to writing character dynamics:

Writing about the Darkness: Invoking Mystery and Fear

Writing about darkness has the power to reach into our core, tapping into primal emotions such as mystery and fear.

It serves as both a metaphorical and literal backdrop for danger, unknown elements, or even supernatural encounters.

By employing darkness as a narrative driver, writers can create experiences that keep readers on the edge of their seats, cementing engagement and intrigue.

Using Darkness to Drive the Narrative

When incorporating darkness into a story, there are several strategies that can drive the narrative forward.

These strategies contribute to a tense atmosphere and lie in setting up obstacles for characters, stirring tension, and laying the groundwork for suspenseful action.

The unknown aspects of the night provide a myriad of opportunities to cultivate fear and mystery in the reader’s mind.

Here is a chart that breaks down some helpful strategies:

Exploring the Twofold Nature of Night’s Tranquility and Turbulence

The twofold nature of night is a fascinating element in storytelling, offering writers countless opportunities to craft engaging narratives that capture the essence of both tranquil night scenes and turbulent night writing.

As the darkness wraps itself around the world, it reveals the duality of night.

You can use this duality to showcase how peaceful moments can intertwine with chaotic events, reflecting the complexities of human emotions and experiences.

To understand the twofold nature of night, let’s first delve into the serenity that can envelop the nocturnal landscape.

Tranquil night scenes depict nature at its most peaceful, showcasing a world untouched by human worries.

Stars glitter above, casting a calming glow upon the quiet earth below, while the gentle rustle of leaves sings a lullaby to the slumbering world. These moments of stillness can provide the most evocative settings for introspection, personal growth, or emotional connection between characters.

On the other hand, turbulent night writing employs darkness to create tension, suspense, or fear.

The howling wind and stormy skies set in stark contrast to the serenity of tranquil night scenes. These moments serve to bring out the raw, primal emotions within characters, forcing them to confront adversity, battle their fears, or come face-to-face with their deepest anxieties.

The Power of Short Sentences and Fragments in Night Imagery

Short sentences and fragments wield considerable power in night imagery.

This writing technique reinforces the themes of darkness and night by mimicking the shadows and disjointed glimpses that emerge in low light.

It creates a rhythm reflective of the night’s ebb and flow.

You can guide the reader through the narrative in abrupt, sometimes breathless, spurts that can increase tension or underscore a moment of clarity within the darkness.

Consider these examples:

• Stars blinked in and out. A hush fell. Shadows danced.
• Moonlight sliced through darkness. Cold air whispered. Teeth chattered.
• Rain lashed the window. Thunder menaced. Breath shuddered.

Each example above showcases short sentences or fragments that mimic the fleeting nature of night scenes.

By truncating the length of sentences, the writer sets a  distinctive tempo —one that effectively captures the essence of night and transports the reader into the story.

Fragments in particular can serve as impactful standalone statements, leaving room for interpretation and heightening the sense of mystery. Not confined by traditional grammatical rules, they are free to support or disrupt a narrative flow, making them potent tools for night imagery.

She hesitated. Darkness clawed at her heart. Eerie silence.

In the example above, the fragment “ Eerie silence ” punctuates the sequence and provokes a sense of unease through its abruptness.

Fragments like this one become a powerful storytelling device in night imagery, condensing tension or emotion into brief, visceral moments.

Here is a good video about writing techniques you can use to describe night in writing:

Conclusion: How to Describe Night in Writing

Mastering the art of describing night opens doors to captivating storytelling.

Explore more articles on our website to further enhance your writing skills and craft immersive narratives.

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Research Gate – Research on Nighttime

• How it works

Description of Starry Night by Van Gogh - Paper Example

The Starry Night is a piece of art in the form of a painting by Vincent Van Gogh. He was a Dutch artist known for his major contributions in post-impressionist art. The painting is regarded as one of his finest work and is now permanently kept in New York at the Modern Art Museum. The Starry Night is representative of post impressionists which is characterized by high levels of focus on aspects of symbolisms as well as other qualities of abstract art. It is also associated with the vivid use of color a distorted expression of painting and the depiction of real life subject matters. The painting depicts the view of the asylum from where he resided and showed the view just before sunrise. It also describes an ideal village as an addition to the view from the window of the asylum. The painting represents the captivating use of color and composition that explores both physical and emotional sense of awe about a depiction of art (Parys, 19).

It accounts for a point in the life of Van Goghs life that was filled with dark moments. He had experienced a mental breakdown, and it forced him to seek residence in the asylum that later on inspired some of his best works including the Starry night. The painting represents his view associated with a window overlooking the country. The painting is a geometrical masterpiece that combines aspects of ascension from the left towards the right in combinations of the use of circular winds that together create a very captivating piece of art. It is a combination of both intellectual as well as artistic representation of art that portrays both physical and emotional aspects of the artist and his perspective of the world at a shallow moment of his life (HUMAIRAH, 21).

The starry night can be said to be a piece of art full of aesthetic satisfaction. It is highly associated with contrast that is easy for the eyes to catch. Contacts can be seen in the art in the form of both vertical and horizontal lines represented by the different strokes made by the painter. The assertion from left to right is also useful in creating contrast in the painting, and this makes it very attractive to contemporary art lovers. The contrast has mostly been used to represents objects in the painting such as the cypress trees as well as the nature of the sky. The contrast of colors is also substantially represented in the painting (PUCHKO, 56).

The use of diverse colors to epitomize the sky and the town has been active in the success of the painting. The beauty of the painting is relative to many aspects. It is a painting that is way ahead of its time because it depicts several aspects of abstract art despite the fact that abstract art had been developed until later in the next century. This, therefore, shows a genius approach to the development of art that set the way for many others to come. About history, the painting is a representation of post-impressionist period characterized by the vivid use of color for the depiction of art. It puts a lot of focus on natural representations of both color and light. The paint represents the night time just before sunrise, and this is representatives of the peak of dreaming time. The sky is represented using high levels of activity depicted using a large number of heavenly bodies (Gogh, 37).

Works Cited

BIBLIOGRAPHY Gogh, Vincent van. The Starry Night. n.d. https://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-the-starry-night-1889. 2017.

HUMAIRAH, ISHRATH. Starry Night Vincent Van Goghs Painting of Hope & Despair. 2009. http://wanderingmist.com/inspiration/starry-night-vincent-van-gogh-painting-of-hope-and-despair/.

Parys, Monika. Why is Vincent Van Gogh's painting Starry Night considered beautiful? 2014. https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Vincent-Van-Goghs-painting-Starry-Night-considered-beautiful.

PUCHKO, KRISTY. Starry Night. 2015. http://mentalfloss.com/article/62621/11-things-you-didnt-know-about-starry-night.

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