Learning Specialist, Emma Waldman: This is a very popular painting at the museum, so it might be crowded. See if you can find a good place to see The Starry Night.
In this painting, the moon is out and shining bright, and the stars are glowing. Which star shines the brightest?
The whole sky seems to be alive and moving with swirls and waves of color. With your eyes, follow one of the swirls in the sky.
Some people describe the swirls as the wind, and others see it as clouds passing by. What do you think? Could this just be how the artist, Vincent van Gogh, saw the sky in his imagination?
Van Gogh once wrote a letter to his brother saying, “Looking at the sky always makes me dream.” Notice how many different colors of blue make up the sky. Some artists blend paint colors together. But van Gogh painted without mixing the colors first. Look closely to see the brushstrokes and the thick paint on the canvas.
With such a lively sky overhead, you might not notice the little village below, which van Gogh could see from his window. What do you think is going on inside the houses? Share your ideas with a friend or family member.