Starry Night

Munch painted many of his paintings from the beach in Aasgaardstrand in an Oslo Fjord where he had spent much of his summers since the mid to late 1880's.

Munch had returned to Norway following a mental breakdown due to suffering from extreme anxiety and being hospitalised. On return to Norway, he fell in love with the sea and in particular stoney beaches that separated the forest areas and the sea. It was this scenery that Munch used in so many of his works, including Starry Night. One of Munch's most domineering elements is the shape of linden trees which merges to form one outline. The trees that are included in the paintings can still be seen in the same places today, with their spooky and intriguing light reflection. Munch's imagery is very literal in several of his works, just like it is in this one.

Munch's Starry Night is very often compared to Vincent Van Gogh's painting which has the same name. Van Gogh's Starry Night is a significantly different conception. There is a difference of three years between the two works. Sky, earth and water appear in Munch's Starry Night, which all interact perfectly together, where one moves seamlessly into another. Munch's depiction of nature suggest the themes of love and life which are exist and are demonstrated throughout Munch's works.

Munch was a troubled human being, that used his art to find inner peace. He painted about lifes troubles and trials, but in contrast about the worlds beauty. Munch was a very influential artist at the time, and certainly played his part in shaping art in the early 1900's. Munch was a talented individual that struggled with his health. He was a famous Norwegian painter and printer who lived between 1864 and 1944. He is particularly known for the emotion and psychology that he put into his paintings, as well as his symbolism. These components have been said to influence German expressionism in the first part of the twentieth century. Munch's Starry Night painting is no exception.