Art Elements
History of painting:
This painting was believed to have been painted at an asylum where he stayed after a mental breakdown(Paulson, 2015). This was a spin off of a earlier starry night painting the year earlier and is thought to be from memory(Paulson, 2015).
Elements:
First thing I have to say I have seen this paintings many times and I always thought that it was an old church steeple in the foreground of the painting and not a Cyprus tree. Just thought people might think that was funny. When it comes to the elements of art that are used in this print texture, pattern, color and lines. With texture I think the thickness f the paint can gave the person when and if they can touch it the feel of the paint and the width of the brushes used. For color and lines I think they are used in the same way and that is to highlight the main points and to set the mood of the painting. The different colors around the moon and stars draw your attention to them. The lines in the sky suggest the it might be a windy evening with the swirls in the blues. The dark blue line puts a definite line between the sky and he village in the foreground.
Sources
Dr. Noelle Paulson, "Vincent van Gogh, The Starry Night," in Smarthistory, August 9, 2015
https://smarthistory.org/van-gogh-the-starry-night/
"Starry Night" is one of my favorite paintings of Van Gogh's. I kind of have a dark soul like him (minus the insane asylum part), but I love a good moody painting. The feeling of this piece elicits feelings of quiet solitude and peace in the stillness of the dark night with the sky all lit up by the moon and stars. I love the brushstrokes here and how they guide your eye as they sweep across the page. You're absolutely right about the color and lines and how they set the mood. You can almost feel the wind spinning through the air!
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ReplyDeleteRhett, I don't think I've ever looked at the painting close enough to realize that it is indeed a tree and not a chapel. I wonder how many other people thought that as well. I guess when looking at it far away, all we really see is the shape due to the darker colors. I'd also have to agree that the colors set the mood for the painting. The blue colors throughout the piece make the it feel cold and gloomy. The yellow hints throughout the painting give it just enough warmth and light.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's crazy how famous this piece is and how many people think it is a chapel rather than a tree. I never knew that it was a tree! I agree with you that the colors of the sky draw attention. The vibrant colors and bold sky texture make the town below look small. This is probably intentional and shows how vast the universe is compared to our small worlds below. Another emotion the painting brings out is that nature is such a large part of the world, and it overpowers anything man-made.
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