The Starry Night

"The Starry Night," an iconic oil-on-canvas painting by Dutch Post-impressionism artist Vincent van Gogh, was created in June 1889. It captures the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence just before sunrise, blending reality with imagination through an sketch and study of the scene. The swirling night sky, dotted with glowing stars and a bright crescent moon, contrasts with a tranquil village below. Van Gogh’s expressive brushwork and use of paper-like textures evoke emotion, making this work a touchstone of modern art. Since 1941, it has been part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection in New York City and remains one of the most recognizable paintings in the Western canon.