Van Gogh's famous painting Starry Night and story behind it
Vincent Willem van Gogh (March 30,1853 – July 29,1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. Born into a Protestant ministerial family in Zundert, North Brabant, he began his career working at the Goupil & Cie art dealership in The Hague before serving as a missionary in the Borinage mining district.
His dismissal from the church solidified his artistic resolve. In The Hague, he developed his philosophy that painting should express ideas. His early works featured somber tones, but his exposure to Japanese woodcut styles in Antwerp gradually brightened his palette. After moving to Paris in 1886, he absorbed Neo-Impressionist techniques, forging a distinctive artistic style.
During his prolific years in Arles, southern France (1888), his works received little recognition. A 1888 collaboration with Paul Gauguin ended in discord due to personality clashes, leading to a mental breakdown. He was admitted to Saint-Rémy's Saint-Paul asylum, where he committed suicide with a gun while painting outside Auvers-sur-Oise on July 27,1890, and died two days later.
Van Gogh created 864 oil paintings, 1,037 sketches and 150 watercolors in his lifetime, including such famous works as The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers and Starry Night.
Background Story?
"Starry Night", created in June 1889 during Van Gogh's mental health crisis, emerged from his voluntary admission to a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy. While confined, the artist found solace in painting during daylight hours. After a month-long hospital stay, he produced this masterpiece that vividly captures a night sky filled with swirling nebulae, luminous stars, and a crescent moon.
Psychologically, the painting's distorted lines and intense colors mirror Van Gogh's inner turmoil. As French philosopher André Gide famously stated, "Art is the transmission of emotions." Through "Starry Night", Van Gogh fully conveyed his profound inner world to viewers.
Although Vincent van Gogh is now considered one of the most valuable artworks in history, he himself viewed this painting as a failed experiment. Months after its creation, he briefly mentioned it in a letter to his brother Theo as "Night Study." Later, he decided against sending the painting to the Netherlands (claiming he preferred other works) and ultimately labeled his masterpiece as "failed" in a letter to fellow painter Émile Bernard.
Why is Starry Night famous?
Unique Artistic Style: Van Gogh employed hyperbolic techniques to depict a starry sky pulsating with motion and transformation. The canvas showcases stars of varying sizes swirling around the luminous moon, forming an endless spiral galaxy that conveys turbulent, rotating instability. This artistic expression bursts forth from the painter's subjective perception and intense emotions, creating a visually striking impact.
Historical influence: Star Night is a sign of the maturity of Van Gogh's oil painting technique. It not only provided many techniques for the later generation of Fauvism and expressionism painting, but also promoted the development of oil painting of night scenes.
Current location of the collection
The painting "Starry Night" is currently housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, USA. As one of the world's most renowned modern art museums, MoMA boasts an extensive collection and attracts millions of visitors annually. According to official statistics, the museum sees over 3 million visitors each year, with "Starry Night" standing as one of its most iconic exhibits.
About Us
Founded in Shanghai, China, Sigurai later expanded its gallery to Hangzhou—two cities that boast profound cultural heritage and a thriving community of creative local artists. This unique advantage allows us to continuously discover fresh, original artworks that carry the essence of Chinese creativity.
Every decorative painting we offer is a hand-painted original, complete with the artist’s hand-signed signature—ensuring no two pieces are identical. From curating artworks and conducting strict quality checks to providing professional framing, we adhere to high standards at every step to guarantee excellence. Many of our collaborating artists have showcased their works in international exhibitions, and their pieces are also collected by government institutions, a testament to their artistic value and recognition.
No matter where you are in the world, we can safely deliver your chosen artwork right to your door. You don’t need to worry about shipping logistics; simply select a piece that resonates with you, and let these unique creations by Chinese artists add a special touch to your space.
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