OKay, I love this image and don't see anything disturbing. In fact, I find this one of the most spiritual pieces of art I know.

Too tired, late at night to explain; i will do that later.

Edvard Munch, a contemporary of the time, is far more disturbing. Most people know "the Scream" (also called "the Cry"...). And take a look at his other works. He saw the worst in people, quite often. Van Gogh saw hope in the midst of his turmoil.

Dali is disturbing.

Goya is INCREDIBLY disturbing.

Van Gogh was just, well, like me. I see a lot of similarities between him and myself in his life - I just am lucky enough to have Prozac available.

Anyway, Starry Night is more about the vision of Gene Roddenberry and Carl Sagan than anything else. Farscape. Firefly. But I am really too tired to get deeper than that right now.

You know, when I have a migraine - lights often DO take on "halo" effect (for as long as i can stand to look at them, that is.

SO that explanation would actually make quite a bit of sense.

And migraines quite often go hand in hand with depression and bi-polar (I was told this by my neurologist), so it is possible he was suffering fomr both.

Jilly you brought up some other great paintings to discuss! Thanks!

I love it - I seem to always respond to the art and literature of the underdog!

Interestingly, we have just returned from viewing the Van Goghs at London's National Gallery. The kids,from being Van Gogh fans, suddenly went to not liking him! Shame! I wonder why? Anyway, the painting suddenly seemed smaller and had less impact. (Sunflowers)

(our photo journal of the visit below if interested further)

Going off to investigate further on the education forums.....

Ok - maybe I am as disturbed as Van Gogh - but, if you look at the large swirl just to the right of the "Spires of Mount Doom", do you not see a face in that circle? Also in the very small swirl just above it there is a face and in the small swirl over by the moon. In the screen saver I had of it a few years ago, I saw many more faces. There was even one of Van Gogh himself in the long swirl to the right of the Spires. Are there different versions of the painting that VanGogh might have put in faces? Am I nuts?!!! I do see faces there.

No, you're right - I see them too - but then I see them in tree trunks, rocks and ripples too! For me, in this particular painting - it is the power and energy of the sweeping brush strokes that engages me - yet they are controlled too!

The ones we viewed in London seemed oddly melancholy despite their colours - almost surreal (the sunflowers and the chair.) I think we,and the kids, have become used to seeing them much larger - as posters = and so were disappointed.

That's so interesting that you got more fond of the altered-size reproductions than the reality of it! I imagine you could put a reproduction in a frame you adore too - and then really dislike the way the museum chose to frame it.

I'm still not sure I see faces, maybe I need a larger image!

Yes, I wish you could see those paintings. Imagine you have a bright yellow sunshiny large image in your mind.

Then you walk into a busy room with dull lighting, and poked away in one corner is a grey blueish small insignificant-looking painting of sunflowers in a dowdy frame! That is the great Van Gogh!

Don't get me wrong, I love the painting - but I'm sure most kids are used to large, light wall posters!

How much photo-enhancing, maximising do you think they do? Could no longer get the kids interested in that painting!

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Ahhhh! I almost bought this today.

At Target they had a reprodution of his three works:
"Starry Night over the Rhone"
"Cafe Terrace at Night" &
"Starry, Starry Night"

I'm still kind of kicking myslef for not getting it.

My (16 yr old) son goes - "Why would you want that?"

This is the one that is supposed to be so good in art too!