A masterpiece or a cry for help? | Starry Night #art #history

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night is one of the most iconic paintings in history, created in 1889 during his stay at the Saint-Rémy-de-Provence asylum. The view? A landscape from his bedroom window just before sunrise. The swirling sky, painted with restless, dynamic brushstrokes, reflects the turmoil in Van Gogh’s mind. A small village, not part of the actual view, is believed to symbolize his childhood home or Saint-Rémy itself. Its illuminated houses form a connection between humanity and the grandeur of the Milky Way. At the forefront stands a towering cypress tree, a symbol of death in many cultures, often found in cemeteries. For Van Gogh, it bridges earth and sky, its shape echoing the upward reach of the church spire beside it. Together, they embody the artist's longing for transcendence. While inspired by nature, The Starry Night also shows the influence of Japanese prints, with tight cropping and bold forms. The painting reflects not madness, but Van Gogh’s relentless creativity, a testament to his genius even in the face of profound suffering.