The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh · 1889
Oil on canvas
Quick answer
The Starry Night (1889) by Vincent van Gogh is in Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York City. The Starry Night is an oil-on-canvas painting by Dutch Post-Impressionist artist Vincent van Gogh, painted in June 1889 at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. It depicts a swirling night sky over a village, dominated by a large cypress tree and a crescent moon. The painting is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, where it has been since 1941. It is among the most recognised and reproduced images in Western art history. World Museum Guide explains what you're looking at and how to see it.
Frequently asked questions
Where is The Starry Night located?
The Starry Night is permanently housed at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City, displayed in Gallery 503 on the fifth floor. MoMA is located at 11 West 53rd Street, Midtown Manhattan, accessible from the E and M subway lines at Fifth Avenue/53rd Street station.
Why did Van Gogh paint The Starry Night?
Van Gogh painted it while voluntarily staying at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole psychiatric asylum in 1889. He found painting therapeutic and was given a studio at the asylum. He had written extensively about wanting to paint stars, and despite being confined, produced some of his most celebrated works during this period.
What is The Starry Night about?
The painting depicts a turbulent night sky over a sleeping village. The swirling, rhythmic brushstrokes suggest powerful natural forces — wind, cosmic energy, or Van Gogh's emotional state. The cypress tree connects earth to sky in a single dark flame. Van Gogh was deeply interested in religion and the cosmos, and the painting has been interpreted as a vision of eternity and of his own psychological condition.
How much is The Starry Night worth?
The Starry Night is considered priceless as a permanent public museum artwork and is not for sale. For comparison, Van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet sold for $82.5 million in 1990. As his most famous work, The Starry Night would command far higher than any Van Gogh ever sold at auction.
Is The Starry Night Van Gogh's most famous painting?
Yes — The Starry Night is generally considered Van Gogh's most famous and most reproduced painting. It is the most visited work in the MoMA collection and appears more frequently in popular culture than any of his other works. However, Sunflowers and The Bedroom are also among his most celebrated paintings.
Can you see The Starry Night at MoMA for free?
MoMA charges standard admission (around $30 for adults). However, The Starry Night is free to view on the first Friday evening of each month (UNIQLO Free Friday Nights, 5:30–9 PM). Members and children under 16 always enter free.