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Van Gogh's mystery - What is really depicted in his most famous painting?

4/12/2017
18,994 views
Science Story: Van Gogh's mystery - What is really depicted in his most famous painting?

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For over a hundred years, people have been wondering about what is represented in the famous "The Starry Night". Is the mystery finally revealed? Let's find out!

Vincent van Gogh painted "The Starry night" in June 1889, a year before his death. This picture is considered to be not only one of the best works of the artist but also one of the most important works of Western painting.

In 2004, using the space telescope "Hubble", scientists observed the tourbillon of a cloud of dust and gas around a distant star, which reminded them of van Gogh's painting " "The Starry Night."

They began to study the light in the painting in detail and found a distinct model of fluid turbulence patterns. It turned out that when the famous Dutch painter was in a hospital in France he captured one of the most rare and elusive concepts in science - turbulence.


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So what is turbulence?

Turbulence or turbulent flow is a concept in fluid dynamics where a flow of energy cascade spontaneously forms large tourbillons that generate smaller tourbillons, which, in their turn, generate even smaller ones. It is difficult to describe from the mathematical point of view but can be represented visually:

Over a hundred years ago, Van Gogh, being in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, somehow was able to realize and express one of the highly complex concepts that nature has presented to humanity - the greatest mystery of motion, flow and light combined together.

Learn more about this natural mystery and Van Gogh's art:

Are you interested in art? Have you ever thought about the meaning of this masterpiece? Do you think scientists have really found the answer? Share your thoughts in the comments below!


SHARE if you are surprised that this unique artist was able to capture and depict such rare and elusive concept!

#Science #art

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What are your thoughts on this subject?
162 Comments
Terry Bremer
Terry Bremer
...I wish people would stop trying to explain everything, in terns they 'they' can understand, and just sit back and enjoy the 'genius' for what it is...just plain genius.
54
May 29, 2019 4:59PM
Carol Bruyere
Carol Bruyere
I just enjoy the painting
16
Jul 17, 2019 7:39PM
Polly Culberson
Polly Culberson
I think it's more the state of mind Vincent was in, suffering from Bi-Polar disorder as he was. He went through periods of mania and depression. I loved seeing his work in Amsterdam at the Van Gogh Museum.
10
Oct 13, 2019 10:48PM
Bewick Finzer
Bewick Finzer
Like he was thinking about turbulence. He was crazy and just painted what was in his mind .
9
Jul 18, 2019 6:58PM
Margaret Boder
Margaret Boder
I just came back from Arles in the Provence our guide talked about his alcohol consumption of Absynthe which can cause hallucinations especially in someone who is mentally ill. I think that was why Starry night looks the way he painted it as he saw it.
8
Jul 30, 2019 8:29PM
Paulette Arnold
Paulette Arnold
Carol Bruyere, I am trying to do the cross stitch version that I found and was given to me for Christmas. It is Very challenging. It has so many colors that are similar. I hope I can get it finished before Jesus calls me home!
0
Apr 14, 2024 7:34PM
Neil Schloss
Neil Schloss
It’s a beautiful painting. The song Starry Starry Night by Don McLean does it justice. One of my favorite songs.
3
Oct 3, 2023 4:28PM
joetaylor
joetaylor
Terry Bremer, so true so true
0
Jun 11, 2023 4:58PM
Gail Cusack
Gail Cusack
I love many of his paintings but Starry Sky is my favourite. He was a genius that's for sure. Saw his exhibition when it came to Wellington New Zealand, took two of my granddaughters, both very artistic themselves.
2
Nov 11, 2022 1:17AM
Jah's-Friend
Jah's-Friend
Margaret Boder, yes, and the fact that these scientists found something in space that "reminded" them of Vincent's Starry Night painting was just merely a coincidence. To think that there would be some connection to this turbulence theory and Van Gogh's painting from 1889 is quite a reach. But the wine you mentioned, I remember reading about it's effects if consumed. It also illegal to drink in places, isn't it? I can't remember the extent, though... Although, Van Gogh would be hard pressed to find a bottle of which you speak in an insane Asylum of the time... Unless of course, those in charge gave the drink to the off-the-hook patients to, soothe them? Idk, but for some reason this does not seem too far fetched of a theory to me....
0
Sep 6, 2022 5:01PM
Edward Montgomery
Edward Montgomery
Wayne Roberts, it is difficult to say his name if you are not Dutch, but I always try and tried to get my students to, also.
0
Apr 1, 2022 5:13PM
Edward Montgomery
Edward Montgomery
Van Gogh saw many things in his own way and interpreted them on canvas. Only he could do that. That was his genius. We know he did see that tree and painted it many times. It was the tree outside his asylum window.
4
Apr 1, 2022 5:10PM
Lourdes Ayala
Lourdes Ayala
I wonder if he was under the influence of drugs that may have been prescribed for him? I just think his paintings were just genius!
2
Mar 3, 2022 6:50PM
Eve
Eve
It is my favourite painting and has been since I first saw it...I don't really care what you think he saw...I care that he created a wonderful work of art for all to enjoy...
4
Oct 2, 2021 11:30AM
Rita Mc Grath Dussault
Rita Mc Grath Dussault
Thank you for the best explanation of the painting. I do enjoy it so much more after reading this. I always feel so sad reading about his life but reading what this picture conveys makes much more sense to me than all the other comments I read. Thank you Thank you Thank you. Cyndie Clements Stevens,
0
Jan 16, 2021 5:19PM
marthadycus
marthadycus
I Agree ☝🏾
0
Jun 26, 2020 5:03PM
peggykandies
peggykandies
Just understand what he was saying in art language.
3
Apr 12, 2020 11:31PM
popuppy
popuppy
Personally, I think he had eye problems.
1
Feb 12, 2020 5:32PM
Wayne Roberts
Wayne Roberts
Please respect the man by learning how to pronounce his name correctly! He was Dutch by the way and the correct pronunciation can be googled.
4
Feb 10, 2020 9:28PM
Joe Anders
Joe Anders
Me too Polly Culberson,
0
Dec 23, 2019 4:16PM

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