Monday, May 5, 2008

Starry Starry Night

Vincent Van Gogh (dutch) b.1853, Starry Night, 1889, Oil on Canvas, 73 × 92 cm, Museum of Modern Art, New York City



Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853. He was part of the post-impressionalism time period. This peice of artwork is an example of impressionism because of the texture that it shows. You would not normally see a night sky that looks like someone had put it in a blender. This is because in many of his pieces, Van Gough chooses to go with an abstract approach. The colors on this painting make the on-looker's eye jump from spot to spot and the texture makes you feel like you could just reach out and touch the coils of white, blue, and green.

There are many possible meanings that could be associated with this painting. Some people even thought that Van Gogh was not in a stable mental position (kinda crazy) when he painted this peice. But no one can really no for sure what he really saw as he created this master peice. Perhaps this is actually what the sky looked like on that particular night (although I highly doubt it). What I belive that it symbolizes is a peaceful night over a small town, with shining stars and beautiful swirling galaxies. Maybe Van Gogh was trying to show what he thought the great beyond might be like. I don't know about you, but those patterns in the sky could possibly look a bit "alienish" to me.

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