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poet imaginatively narrates and reflects on the acts of either a painting or sculpture
amplifying and expounding its meaning. In addition to the description of the piece of art,
such a poem mostly incorporates an investigation of how the speaker is affected by his or her
involvement with the work (Heffernan). This particular exposition will analyze Starry Night,
a painting by Vincent Van Gogh, examine Anne Sexton's poem in response to the canvas, and
Before anything, a clear description of Van Goghs painting is befitting. The painting
was created in 1889 and drawn by oil on canvas (Charles and Gogh). The night sky depicted
by the artist is swirling with spinning clouds, shimmering stars, and a bright crescent moon
(Gogh). The setting of the art is one that the audience can easily relate. The viewers are
drawn to the swirling sky. There is a fluidity that results from the spacing between the stars
and the curving contours implying a distinct technique for this particular piece of art.
In the Starry Night painting, Van Gogh chose a unique style. For instance, he
preferred lines to illustrate the night scene when silhouettes would have been used. The
contours, as a form of expression, relay emotion. During the last two years of his life, Van
Gogh had an unconventional identity and unsteady inclinations and experienced psychopathic
incidences leading many to believe that the artistes turbulent mission to beat his disease is
depicted in the duskiness of the night sky. Van Gogh painted the town with dark hues while
the windows brightly lit fostering a sense of tranquility. Further, it is serene as contrasted with
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the tense night sky. The quietness of the nighttime can practically be felt in the artistic
creation. The church spire is dominant in the town exemplifying unity among the members of
the small community. The painting has a curvy cypress tree, painted in fluid lines as the sky,
The choice of color in this particular painting is of interest. Notably, the yellow hue
dominates the Starry Night (Gogh). Interestingly, this is the same case in other Van Goghs
late works (Charles and Gogh). White and yellow colors create a spiraling effect drawing
interest to the sky. The artiste's opted to use dark blue and green colors. The buildings at the
center of the art work are little squares of yellow, orange, and greens (Gogh). The orange of
the moon and the stars balances the dominance of blue in Starry Night. The artist paints the
vibrant hues of the nighttime corresponding with the actual character of the Starry Night in
Van Gogh appears to be very passionate about night-time owing to how he makes a
compelling sky sit above the quiet town in his Starry Night painting. Such a scenario can be
interpreted as a contrast between life and death and the luminous stars and bright crescent
moon and a gloomy, peaceful village. The canvas can be construed as hope. It appears like
the artist wanted the audience to know that even with a darker night like the one on the
painting; it is still conceivable to see the light emanating from the house windows. Moreover,
the light from the shining stars and the moon would still provide guidance. Upon relating this
situation to Van Gogh's life, it appears as if he was finally being cured of his ailment and he
had discovered his paradise. Further, it was evident to him that he would be at peace in death
as portrayed by his choice of bold colors in the painting. The brushstrokes are unique, thick,
and very much evident and there is a possibility that Van Goghs severe attacks further
Anne Sexton's poem is propelled by Van Gogh's well-known art the Starry Night. The
poem kicks off with a letter from Van Gogh to his brother Theo. There is something profound
in the quote about the writer's need for something eternal and sacred. Sexton was as much a
troubled artist as Van Gogh. She had a mental disorder for some years and later committed
suicide in 1974 after several attempts. The Starry Night painting has many movements in the
brushstrokes and turmoil in the thick billowing sky. Sexton describes the art in an engaging
manner. She says, "except where one black-haired tree slips / up like a drowned woman into
the hot sky (2-3). In fact, a closer examination of the art reveals the tree appears as if it were
made of human hair. Something is so threatening about this image and Sexton confirms this
On examination of the poem, a deeper meaning emerges. The speaker personifies the
tree by stating, one black-haired tree slips / up like a drowned woman into the hot sky (2-
3). The personification is to speak to herself as somebody roosted on the edge of life and
and The night boils with eleven stars (4) "The moon bulges in its orange irons / to push
children, like a god, from its eye" (9-10), suggests the rejection of life signaling the
imminence of death.
The tone is thoughtful and serious. The speaker is by all accounts pondering the
monstrosity and suddenness of death and sees it as a prevailing power. She likewise
communicates a distinct boldness and individual decision in the face of death when she
states, This is how I want to die (5-6 & 11-12). In the primary stanza, the speaker is by all
accounts mulling over the components of Van Gogh's work of art and relating them to her
circumstance with looming demise. She communicates zeal with the line "Oh starry night!"
utilizing an exclamation mark to stress the wild magnificence of the scene. By the completion
of the stanza with the basic articulation, "This is how I want to die." the speaker attests her
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desire to face demise in all its power. The persona has accepted she will embrace what is to
come. The title of the poem appears to speak to the exceptional force of death.
In spite of the fact that the poem uses symbolism from Van Gogh's sketch, it moves
past it by communicating the speaker's experience. Just like Van Goghs painting, the poem is
about confronting demise. Anne Sexton is stating that despite the fact that passing may
appear to be pitiless and sudden, it is ideal to acknowledge it dauntlessly and even hold onto
it as a force as robust as life. Anne Sextons poem in response to Vincent Van Goghs Starry
Night painting, therefore, complements each other in almost every aspect both visually and
textually. While the art may speak to particular feelings of the craftsman himself, the poem
communicates feelings roused by the art. The speaker draws meaning from the visual
Works Cited
Charles, Victoria and Vincent van Gogh. Vincent Van Gogh. 1st ed. [New York]: Parkstone
Gogh, Vincent. Starry Night. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 1889. Print.
Heffernan, James A. W. Museum Of Words. 1st ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
1993. Print.
Sexton, Anne. The Starry Night. Selected Poems of Anne Sexton, edited by Houghton