When asking
an individual to name one painting they know, most likely than not, Starry Night will be mentioned. As much
as Van Gogh’s works are considered masterpieces of this day, the constant
glorification of the subject sometimes runs down its magnitude. After having
seen Van Gogh’s Starry Night numerous
times without giving much thought into it, I’ve encountered an interest in
discovering what the meanings behind some of the world’s most famous works of
art.
During
his time of existence and career, the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh was not
hailed for his artistic techniques, undermining his style and calling it “sloppy,
crude and childish.” The critics who were more accustomed to photographic
landscapes and portraits of the time did not appreciate the surrealism that Van
Gogh emanated. He was therefore isolated from the general public, which his
feelings of loneliness could be portrayed through the contrast of dark and
light colors of his painting. The big brushstrokes could signify his desire to
continue being bold with his style, endeavoring to convince himself that he is
more confident than he actually is.
Although
this may be stretching a bit, the eleven stars on Van Gogh’s Starry Night could signify Joseph’s
dream of the eleven stars in the Bible. In the biblical account of Joseph, the
dreamer, the boy was also isolated from his own family and sold into slavery by
the abandonment of eleven of his jealous older brothers. Similar to how Joseph
showed constant efforts to receive acceptance from his siblings, Van Gogh also
displayed his determined endeavor towards being respected as an artist but had
failed to receive recognition of the time period’s art critics.
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