A masterpiece born from the deepest despair. The true story behind the world-famous painting, created from the barred window of a mental asylum.

A swirling, pulsating night sky, exploding stars, a world bursting with ecstatic energy—everyone knows Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night." But few know the circumstances under which this iconic image of hope and comfort was created: in a state of profound loneliness, painted from memory in a room of a psychiatric institution.

In this episode of "10 Minute Insight: Art," we journey into the tormented soul of one of the greatest artists of all time. We follow van Gogh's path to the South of France, shed light on the true story behind the infamous severed ear, and discover how, in his darkest hour, he found a radical new, visionary art form that paved the way for all of modern art.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The Shocking Place of its Creation: Why van Gogh painted his most energetic masterpiece from within the Saint-Rémy mental asylum.

• Myth vs. Reality: The true and tragic story behind the severed ear and the conflict with Paul Gauguin.

• The Soul of the Sky: The hidden meanings concealed within the three layers of the painting—the village, the cypress tree, and the sky.

• A Genius Misunderstanding: Why van Gogh himself considered "The Starry Night" a failed study and barely mentioned it.

• A Revolution in Painting: How this single painting changed art forever and became a key work of Expressionism.

A Journey into the Soul of Vincent van Gogh:

We accompany Vincent van Gogh on his desperate search for an artistic home in Arles, in the South of France. We witness his dream of an artist collective, the bitter conflict with his colleague Paul Gauguin, and the breakdown that led him to the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Always at his side was his brother, Theo van Gogh, whose unwavering support made this work possible—a work that is now considered one of the greatest treasures in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Further Links:

• The Original in New York: The Starry Night at MoMA – Official Website

• Explore the Painting in High Resolution: The Starry Night on Google Arts & Culture

• Read the Artist's Thoughts: The Letters of Vincent van Gogh (Online Archive)

• Deepen Your Knowledge: Wikipedia Article on The Starry Night

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