Starry Night Over The Rhone

The masterpiece, Starry Night Over The Rhone, was painted by Vincent van Gogh in 1888. It depicts a night scene looking along the banks of the river, and across the community of Arles in the South of France, where the artist once lived. It was exhibited in France in 1889, together with Van Gogh's famous, Irises.

The painting was created at the peak of Vincent van Gogh's career. While he sold only one painting during his lifetime, the impact and aftermath of his influence in the art world has been enormous. Starry Night Over The Rhone is one of the most sought-after works painted by Vincent van Gogh, and it is believed he was at the peak of his artistic achievements when it was painted. It has been replicated many times over, and art lovers continue to seek prints of the infamous masterpiece.

The challenge presented to Van Gogh when he created the painting, was capturing the night scene lit only by gas lighting and the star-filled night sky. Gas lighting was new in that day, and the color was a bit different than the light emitted by the starlight. The glimmering water of the Rhone in the foreground, dancing with the light reflections capture the eye immediately, as well as the couple who are walking along the river banks.

Vincent van Gogh often commented in letters to his brother, Theo van Gogh, that depicting the perfect color in his paintings was extremely important to him. The night sky and the placement of the shimmering stars, as well as the artificial lighting emphasizes the great measures Van Gogh took to depict the colors in a harmonious and soothing way.

As the painting is viewed, the swirling clouds also draw the eye as they become luminescent with a crested moon. The features seem larger than life, as a night sky always does. Below the big sky a small town lies peaceful and calm, portrayed in warm, dark tones. The center point of the town is a church steeple, standing high in the air and lending a secure, stable feeling to the picture, as if to say that all is well.

Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles before living out his life in an asylum at Saint-Remy in 1889. Some critics believe the painting was created shortly before his suicide, relying heavily upon the memory he had of the small town. In his younger years, he stated that he wanted to help and evangelize those people in poverty and need. Some reviews of the painting say the depiction of the church steeple could have been a reflection of his ambitions in his younger years.