Distant, cold, and beautiful stars have always attracted man. They showed the way in the ocean or the desert, foretold the fate of individuals and entire countries, and helped to understand the laws of the universe. And night lights have long inspired poets, writers, and artists. Van Gogh's painting "Starry Night" is one of the most controversial, mysterious, and fascinating works that celebrate their beauty. How this canvas was created, what events from the painter's life influenced his writing, and how the work is reinterpreted in modern art - you can learn about all this from our article. Discover the intriguing story behind the creation of this iconic canvas, delve into the profound events from the painter's life that shaped his artistic expression, and explore how this masterpiece continues to be reinterpreted in the realm of modern art. Unveil the enigmatic allure of "Starry Night" in our engaging article on ukrburshtyn.com.
The History of the Artist
Vincent Willem van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in the south of Holland in the family of a Protestant pastor. Relatives described the boy as a moody, boring child with strange manners. However, outside the house he often behaved thoughtfully and seriously, and in games, he showed good-naturedness, kindness, and compassion.
In 1864, Vincent was sent to a boarding school, where he studied languages and drawing. However, already in 1868, he left his studies, returning to his native home. Since 1869, the young man worked as a dealer in a large trade and art firm owned by his uncle. There, the future artist became seriously interested in art, often visiting the Louvre, the Luxembourg Museum, exhibitions, and galleries. But due to disappointment in love, he lost the desire to work, instead deciding to become a priest like his father. Thus, in 1878, van Gogh engaged in educational activities in a mining village in the south of Belgium, mentoring parishioners and teaching children.
However, Vincent's only true passion has always been painting. He argued that creativity is the best way to alleviate human suffering, which even religion cannot surpass. But such a choice was not easy for the artist - he was removed from the post of a preacher, he fell into depression, and even spent some time in a psychiatric hospital. In addition, the master suffered from obscurity and financial shortages - there were almost no people willing to buy a Van Gogh painting.
However, this period will later be called the heyday of Vincent van Gogh's work. He worked diligently, creating more than 150 canvases, about 120 drawings and watercolors, and many sketches in less than a year. But even among this rich heritage, the work "Starry Night" stands out for its originality and expressiveness.
Features of van Gogh's painting "Starry Night" - what was the master's intention?
She is first mentioned in Vincent's correspondence with his brother. The artist says that the desire to depict the stars shining in the sky is dictated by a lack of faith. Later, he also said that night lights always helped him dream.
Van Gogh had a similar idea a long time ago. Yes, the canvas painted by him in Arles (a small town in the southeast of France) has a similar plot - "Starry Night over the Rhone", but the artist himself spoke disapprovingly of it. He claimed that he was unable to convey the fabulousness, unreality, and phantasmagoric nature of the world.
The painting "Starry Night" became a kind of psychological therapy for van Gogh, which helped to overcome depression, disappointment, and longing. Hence the emotionality of the work, its bright colors, and the use of impressionistic techniques.
But does the canvas have a real prototype? It is known that the master wrote it while staying in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. However, art critics admit that the location of houses and trees do not correspond to the real architecture of the village. The constellations are shown just as mysteriously. In the panorama that opens before the viewer, you can see typical features of both northern and southern French regions.
Therefore, it should be recognized that Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night" is a very symbolic work. It cannot be interpreted literally - one can only respectfully admire the painting, trying to understand its hidden meanings.
Symbols and interpretation - what is encoded in the image "Starry Night"?
First of all, critics try to understand what the number of night lights means. They are also identified with the Star of Bethlehem, which marked the birth of the Messiah, and with the 37th chapter of the Book of Genesis, which talks about Joseph's dreams: "I saw another dream, behold, the Sun and the Moon, and eleven stars worship me."
Both the stars and the crescent moon are surrounded by bright shining halos. This cosmic light illuminates the restless night sky, in which amazing spirals rotate. They claim that they depict the Fibonacci sequence - a special harmonious combination of numbers that occurs both in human creations and in living nature. For example, the arrangement of scales on a spruce cone and sunflower seeds is subject to this pattern. It can also be seen in the work of van Gogh.
The silhouettes of cypress trees, resembling the flame of a candle, perfectly balance the bottomless sky and the peacefully sleeping earth. They act as mediators between the ceaseless movements of mysterious cosmic lights that create new worlds, and a simple, ordinary provincial town.
Perhaps, it is thanks to this ambiguity that the work of the great painter became famous all over the world. Historians and critics discuss it, and art critics examine the canvas, which is kept at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. And now you have the opportunity to buy the painting "Starry Night" made of amber!
Creating this unique panel, the master recreated all the features and nuances of the original, from composition to coloring. Golden, waxy, sandy, terracotta, saffron - carefully selected shades of gem crumb allow you to convey the energy, dynamics and tension emanating from the picture. And the volume, which the creation found thanks to the inlay of solid precious stones, makes it even more attractive and enchanting.
Our online store can offer you other works of the great artist. Any reproduction of van Gogh in amber is characterized by high quality, impeccable adherence to the original, colorfulness and originality. Therefore, they will please true connoisseurs and connoisseurs of art.