“I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God's help I shall succeed.” – Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890). And it was his faith in God that allowed Dutch Post-Impressionist Vincent van Gogh to become arguably one of the most famous and prolific artists in history. Religion has long provided significant inspiration to the world’s artists and art has been the perfect vehicle for artists to express the human understanding of the mystery of God. Both van Gogh’s Starry Night (1889) and Georges Rouault (French Fauvist/ Expressionist, b. 1871 – d. 1958) Head of Christ or Christ Mocked (1905) are examples of paintings which convey more than aesthetic interest or beauty. Through careful observation of key elements - colour, symbols, objects
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“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. - Genesis 1:1. Starry Night is painted in a style typical of van Gogh’s work. It has a painterly appearance focussing on a vibrant and ‘starry’ night sky which blankets a small town and mountain range. A giant Cyprus tree in the fore ground stands as a sole sentry to the town. The moon and eleven stars draw the viewer’s attention across the painting. “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.” - Psalm 8:3. Van Gogh has used a full palette of colour in the painting to show God’s full creative magnificence. The brown from the Cyprus tree is a symbol of the earth and the worlds humanity, the green from the trees represents living and nature, the blue from the sky symbolises heaven and eternity, and the yellow from the stars represents the light. Additionally, the sky is filled with eleven stars which is very alike to Genesis 37:9 which says “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” At the time of painting Starry Night van Gogh was receiving treatment in an asylum and during this time he always felt that he had God’s support. As a creator, God looks after us and supports us through hard times just as when van Gogh was institutionalised and painting Starry Night. Equally as meaningful is the painting Head of Christ or Christ Mocked which shows God as our
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”. - Genesis 1:1. Starry Night is painted in a style typical of van Gogh’s work. It has a painterly appearance focussing on a vibrant and ‘starry’ night sky which blankets a small town and mountain range. A giant Cyprus tree in the fore ground stands as a sole sentry to the town. The moon and eleven stars draw the viewer’s attention across the painting. “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place.” - Psalm 8:3. Van Gogh has used a full palette of colour in the painting to show God’s full creative magnificence. The brown from the Cyprus tree is a symbol of the earth and the worlds humanity, the green from the trees represents living and nature, the blue from the sky symbolises heaven and eternity, and the yellow from the stars represents the light. Additionally, the sky is filled with eleven stars which is very alike to Genesis 37:9 which says “Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” At the time of painting Starry Night van Gogh was receiving treatment in an asylum and during this time he always felt that he had God’s support. As a creator, God looks after us and supports us through hard times just as when van Gogh was institutionalised and painting Starry Night. Equally as meaningful is the painting Head of Christ or Christ Mocked which shows God as our