The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh · 1889
Why it's great
Van Gogh painted this from memory while staying in a hospital in southern France, and the swirling sky seems to be alive with energy. Instead of copying what he saw, he painted how the night felt: glowing stars, a rolling wind and a sleepy village below. The bold, curling brushstrokes were revolutionary, and they showed artists they could paint emotions, not just objects. Today it is one of the most recognized paintings on Earth.
👀 Look closer!
Count the glowing stars in the sky, then find the tall church steeple in the village below.
Where to see it
📍 Museum of Modern ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Vincent van Gogh was born in a small village in the Netherlands and worked as a teacher and art dealer before becoming a painter at age 27. He lived in the Netherlands, Belgium, Paris, and finally the sunny south of France, where his colors grew brighter and bolder. He painted more than 800 paintings in about a decade, yet sold almost none while alive. After his death at 37, his brother's family helped make him one of the most loved artists in history.
