Vincent’s skies exude emotion that extends beyond his spectacular landscapes; each brushstroke appears to reflect his turbulent soul, resembling celestial symphonies. In van Gogh’s world, the sky is more than a backdrop; it is a living, breathing entity that reflects the intensity of life on Earth.
The whirling blues and greens of the Starry Night create a scene so vivid that it appears to pulsate with the universe’s heartbeat. While the heavens above are a cosmic ballet of whirling stars and a bright moon, the cypress tree in the foreground stands tall, a lone sentry guarding the hamlet below. The thick, impasto brushstrokes create almost physical movement, dancing in a whirlwind of light and darkness. The heavens seem to have opened out to show the very fabric of the universe, and Vincent encourages us to view its beauty via the eyes of a man who viewed the world in a manner few others could.
After Vincent had visited Theo and Jo in Paris, he penned a letter about the trip upon his return to Auvers-sur-Oise, noting:
Wheat Field with Crows. The crows, emblematic of approaching gloom, soar forebodingly through a tumultuous sky of blue, green, and yellow. There exists an unsettling beauty within the chaos, mirroring the artist’s internal strife as he confronted the adversities of his final days. The sky embodies chaos and desolation while simultaneously representing limitless potential and the certainty of transformation.
Wheatfield Under Thunderclouds or Wheatfield under troubled skies is the other large turbulent sky painting Vincent is referring to, but he also painted Field with Wheat Stacks, and Landscape at Auvers in the Rain, each a double square canvas measuring 50 cm x 1 meter wide.
Van Gogh’s skies are a window into his soul, an expression of his most profound thoughts and emotions. They convey hope, sorrow, despair, the inescapable passage of time, and the eternal beauty of the natural world. Whether it’s the fiery oranges and yellows of a setting sun, the cool, calming blues of a summer day, or the dark, penetrable blues of an enraged storm, each color and brushstroke tells a story that crosses Vincent’s time and space.
