Van Gogh's *Starry Night* is widely recognized as one of the most iconic paintings globally. Getty Images


September 21, 2024 Tags:

A recent analysis of Vincent van Gogh's iconic painting, Starry Night, has uncovered surprising connections between the artwork's brushstrokes and the dynamics of Earth's atmosphere. Researchers have found that the painting's swirling sky resembles "hidden turbulence" found in natural processes, hinting at van Gogh’s deep understanding of the environment around him.
Created in June 1889 during van Gogh's stay in an asylum in southern France, Starry Night captures a dreamy view from his window. The masterpiece showcases a vibrant, swirling sky above an imagined village, characterized by vivid colours and intricate brushwork. This painting has long captivated audiences, but new research highlights its scientific significance.

A team of researchers in China identified parallels between the chaotic patterns of the painting and fluid dynamics—the study of how fluids and gases move. Intrigued by these similarities, they set out to analyze van Gogh's work in greater detail.

In their study, published in the journal Physics of Fluids, the researchers examined the colours and brushstrokes in Starry Night. They discovered that the painting's swirling shapes closely resemble the turbulence observed in the atmosphere. Yongxiang Huang, a co-author of the study and expert in fluid dynamics from Xiamen University, remarked, “It reveals a deep and intuitive understanding of natural phenomena.” He suggested that van Gogh’s portrayal of turbulence could stem from either a keen observation of cloud movements or an inherent ability to capture the sky's dynamism.

Researchers examined how the spacing and thickness of the brushstrokes were distributed within each swirl in the sky. Live Science

The team focused on the fourteen whirls present in the painting's sky, noting that these patterns align with Kolmogorov’s law. This principle explains how atmospheric gases behave at varying scales based on inertial energy. In the context of Starry Night, this energy is reflected in the vivid yellows scattered throughout the artwork.

Upon closer inspection, the researchers also found that the arrangement and weight of the brushstrokes matched Batchelor's scaling theory, which describes how small eddies and droplets behave before they dissipate in turbulent fluids. Despite these discoveries, it's important to note that Kolmogorov and Batchelor developed their theories long after van Gogh’s time. Therefore, while van Gogh wasn’t consciously applying fluid dynamics principles, he likely drew inspiration from his observations of nature.

Moreover, the connection between energy and the colour yellow in the painting is likely coincidental, according to the authors. Nonetheless, Starry Night captures natural processes that resonate with the real world.

The impact of Starry Night extends beyond art and science. In 2020, a new species of peacock spider was named after the painting due to the striking resemblance between its colourful patterns and van Gogh’s swirls. In 2021, microbiologists also noted similarities between the painting's iconic forms and swarming colonies of mutated bacteria. Additionally, NASA’s Juno probe recently captured images of Jupiter’s storm swirls that echo the brushstrokes of van Gogh’s artwork, linking the turbulence in both Earth’s and Jupiter’s atmospheres.

Starry Night not only stands as a masterpiece of art but also offers fascinating insights into the natural world. The painting serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of creativity and science, as it invites viewers to appreciate both the beauty of art and the wonders of nature.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating 0 / 5. Vote count: 0

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

You may also like

China Plans to Be First to Return Mars Samples to Earth

China's ambitious Tianwen-3 mission could make it the first nation to successfully return samples from Mars to Earth. Scheduled to....

3,700 Malibu residents return home as weather aids firefighting efforts

A wildfire that started earlier this week in Malibu, California, has forced thousands to evacuate, including celebrities and students. As....

Canada Sets New Target For 2035 to Cut Emissions By 45-50%

Canada has set a new target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 45-50% below 2005 levels by 2035, the....

The Geminid meteor shower is here, offering one of the year's best skyshows

December isn’t just about the festive season; it’s also the time for one of the year’s most exciting celestial events....

Malibu wildfire spreads; evacuations continue as weather aids firefighters.

A wildfire in Malibu, California, fueled by strong winds, has rapidly expanded, forcing thousands to flee their homes, including celebrities....

Malibu wildfire forces evacuations for 20,000, including Dick Van Dyke, Cher

Firefighters in Southern California are facing fierce conditions as they battle a wind-driven wildfire that has forced around 20,000 people,....

Murder Suspect in UnitedHealth Executive Case Shows Outburst as Motives Surface

Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old suspect charged with the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, made headlines during his court appearance....

Nikki Giovanni, Legendary Black Arts Movement Poet, dies at 81

Nikki Giovanni, the award-winning US poet who emerged as one of the leading voices of the 1960s Black Arts movement,....

Webb Telescope reveals the universe is expanding faster than expected

Scientists are grappling with a puzzling discovery: the universe is expanding much faster than expected, a mystery that has deepened....

Man charged with murder in death of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson

Authorities have charged 26-year-old Luigi Mangione with the murder of UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson, bringing an intense five-day manhunt to....

Freezing rain and heavy snow warnings grip parts of Canada till Monday

Parts of Canada are grappling with a powerful winter storm that started on Sunday and is expected to last through....

World’s most expensive dinosaur skeleton now on display in NYC

A new exhibit at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) in New York City is drawing a lot of....