Starry Night - Definition and Overview

The Starry Night is one of the best known paintings by Dutch Impressionist Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh painted The Starry Night from memory while in the asylum at Saint Rémy de Provence, in June 1889. The painting is currently part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

The scene in the painting is of a swirling skyscape filled with yellow glowing stars above a small town and rolling hills. There is a large dark formation left of center. It is debatable what this is, but its purpose seems to be to direct the eye towards the sky. There is also a church steeple in the town pointing towards the sky.

The painting was the inspiration for Don McLean's "Vincent" (also known as "Starry, Starry Night", for its opening lyric.)