What is the art principle of "Starry Night"?

Question

Vincent van Gogh's famous painting "Starry Night" is a painting that captures many different artistic principles and elements. The painting depicts a small city surrounded by a night sky; the moon and stars are vivid and shining bright. During his lifetime, van Gogh only sold one painting. However, his posthumous acclaim as an artist has resulted in his works becoming some of the most replicated in the world.

Answer 1

 

Line in art maintains the basic form of a shape and can be actual, implied, vertical or horizontal. In "Starry Night," van Gogh uses actual lines in the swirling shapes of the stars seen in the sky. The lines are horizontal and act as directional movement indicators, leading the viewer's gaze across the top of the composition. These lines are the focal point, or center of interest, in the entire piece, and are the first thing most viewers see when looking at "Starry Night."

Answer 2

Texture is implied in "Starry Night." Van Gogh's heavy brushstrokes cause the painting to appear to have a rough texture. The painted lines in the sky and on the tree in the foreground of the painting look three-dimensional. The texture creates contrast, and makes the hills and stars in the painting seem emphasized and on a different plane from the rest of the elements