The Starry Night
The Starry Night is a painting by Vincent van Gogh depicting a swirling night sky over a village, created in 1889 and now recognized as one of the most iconic works in Western art.
Painted from memory while confined to a psychiatric hospital following a severe mental health crisis, this swirling nighttime scene has become one of the most reproduced and beloved images in all of art history.
Painted During Hospitalization
Van Gogh painted The Starry Night while staying at a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Rémy, France, following a severe mental health crisis, painting the view largely from memory and imagination.
A Distinctive Swirling Style
The painting's dramatic, swirling depiction of the night sky exemplifies van Gogh's distinctive expressive brushwork style, conveying intense emotion through bold color and movement.
Limited Recognition During His Lifetime
Van Gogh sold very few paintings during his own lifetime, with The Starry Night and most of his now-celebrated works only achieving widespread recognition and appreciation after his death.
An Enduring Cultural Icon
The Starry Night has become one of the most recognized and reproduced images in art history, now housed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
