Vincent Van Gogh's The Starry Night

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127 years ago, Vincent van Gogh observed the vast abyss of sky visible from the iron-barred window in his room at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole lunatic asylum a few hours before the sun crept up from below the horizon. Something about the image delved past the chaotic mess of van Gogh's psychological state and struck a chord with him, inspiring him to create what is now one of the most recognizable paintings of all time - The Starry Night. The Starry Night is one of the most remarkable and breathtaking pieces of artwork ever created in the modern world. With its eye catching color scheme, complicated line pattern, and mysterious, ominous subject, the painting evokes several emotions from viewers including wonder, curiosity, and awe. I was fortunate enough to take in the piece in person at the Museum of Modern Art in Manhattan where many of Vincent van Gogh's paintings are on display. …show more content…
Vincent van Gogh did not paint the Starry Night in one sitting. He wasn't allowed to paint in his room, so he drew a replica using charcoal and paper and referred to it when he was painting. He painted at different times during the day and his color choice also reflected his current emotion(s). Van Gogh's use of white and yellow creates a spiral effect and immediately draws the attention of the viewer to the focal point of the photo, the sky. His choice of dark blues and greens were complimented by notes of a much lighter green, almost like a mint green, which showed the reflection of the moon. The buildings in the center of the painting are small, square blocks comprised of soft yellows, fading oranges, and notes of red. The buildings on the end fade to a pure obsidian color. The dominance of blue in the painting is balanced by the notes of orange and yellow in the night