2019-03-30 Sat

Ever looked up at the night and felt awestruck? The night sky holds so many mysteries; we are looking at so many time zones together. It’s like staring into millions of possible alternative realities. It’s absolutely mesmerising. Probably the only thing that can parallel the beauty of the night sky is the ‘Starry Night’ by Van Gogh.

For those who don’t know, The Starry Night is oil on canvas by the Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh. Painted in June 1889, it depicts the view from the east-facing window of his asylum room at Saint-Remy-de-Provence, just before sunrise, with the addition of an idealized village.

Born on 30th March in Zundert, the Netherlands in 1853, Van Gogh was a true painter at heart. In 1888, he created some of his best works like the sunflower series and The Night Cafe but was diagnosed with dementia due to his growing frustration. After spending two weeks at the Arles Hospital, he stayed in an asylum at Saint-Remy-de-Provence for 12 months. It was during this period that he created one of his most beloved paintings, “Starry Night”.

Though he worked enthusiastically for several months, his mental and emotional state started deteriorating considerably. He could not take it anymore and finally shot himself in late July 1890, feeling that he was a burden on Theo and the others.

A painter of such calibre did not get his due fame until the exhibition in 1901 which turned him into one of the greatest painters of all time! The stamp depicted beside is an Rf 70 stamp from the Maldives. The stamp sheet features a beautiful painting in detail.

Image Courtesy: Maldives Postage Stamps