Van Gogh is a name that anyone who has ever taken an art class has heard of. Out of a catalog of over 2000 artworks, two of his works come immediately to mind. One is a self-portrait he had made after cutting off his ear from a mental episode– although, there are claims that say he lost it in a friendly sword fight in the dark so we will let you pick your own preferred ending. The other is entitled the Starry Night.
Starry Night usually serves as one of the most iconic artworks of the Post-Impressionist era. But, its strangeness has even served a purpose in the field of science.
Turbulence, in a fluid dynamic, is a concept that is not very easy to explain (or envision) using mathematics – art however provides a remarkable bridge to help understand this theory. The eddies in the Starry Night provide perspective on turbulence. After scientists compared the Starry Night to Van Gogh’s other works and also the works of other impressionist painters, it was clear that only Van Gogh was the master of capturing turbulence. Interestingly, he had made the painting after he had admitted himself into a mental facility after the ear incident; perhaps a great example of how true emotions can be put into art.
Check out the video to fully understand how the Starry Night plays a pivotal role in the depiction of this scientific concept. It’s amazing to see how the work of then under-appreciated artist can pave the way to a marvelous discovery over a 100 years later. The line between insanity and sheer genius is certainly a thin one!