Carlos Velázquez on November 7, 2024
“Art transcends its canvas, echoing truths of the world that lie beneath the surface, often hidden even from the artist’s own understanding.”
Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night is a universal icon, a painting that’s captivated millions with its swirling, tempestuous sky. But recent scientific findings reveal that this masterpiece is more than a stunning visual experience; it’s a window into the mysteries of the universe itself. Physicists have discovered that Van Gogh’s brushstrokes echo the precise dynamics of turbulent flow, a fundamental phenomenon in fluid mechanics. This fascinating intersection of art and science opens up a new dimension to the painting’s legacy and sheds light on the intuitive genius of the artist.
The Hidden Science in the Swirls
What makes turbulence so intriguing is that it defies easy explanation, even for modern scientists. It’s the chaotic, yet patterned, movement of fluids—visible in stormy clouds, the swirling of water, or smoke spiraling in the air. In the 1940s, Soviet mathematician Andrey Kolmogorov laid the groundwork for understanding these unpredictable patterns through mathematical equations that describe how energy dissipates through turbulent flows. Astonishingly, an analysis of The Starry Night shows that Van Gogh’s depiction aligns with Kolmogorov’s theory of turbulence, developed almost 50 years after the painting was completed.
Led by physicist Yinxiang Ma, a team of scientists from Xiamen University, along with researchers in France, conducted a comprehensive study on Van Gogh’s artwork. They used high-resolution imaging to measure the spatial properties of the painting’s 14 eddies and whorls. These structures were compared to the behavior of energy in fluid motion, revealing that Van Gogh’s strokes followed the predictable cascade of energy described in Kolmogorov’s equations. The researchers even noted that the brushstrokes at the smallest scales mirrored the power spectrum of turbulence, as defined by Australian mathematician George Batchelor in 1959.
The Art of Observation and Intuition
It’s crucial to note that Van Gogh had no formal training in the science of fluid dynamics. Instead, the accuracy of his representation is believed to stem from his intense observation of the natural world. During his stay at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Van Gogh often gazed at the skies, internalizing the fluid dance of clouds and starlight. He may have felt the turbulence in his own mind, channeling it through each brushstroke. What he created was not just art—it was an unconscious depiction of natural law.
This remarkable coincidence suggests that Van Gogh’s genius was not only artistic but also deeply connected to the rhythms of nature. The findings underline an extraordinary alignment between intuition and scientific phenomena, suggesting that certain universal truths transcend discipline, emerging in the realms of both art and science.
The Broader Universe in Van Gogh’s Vision
Van Gogh’s ability to capture turbulence in The Starry Night is not an isolated feat. Similar patterns have been identified in various artistic works and even in astronomical images, such as photographs of Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. These findings elevate The Starry Night from an emotional masterpiece to a universal one, echoing the unspoken language of the cosmos.
“In contrast to previous studies that examined only part of this painting, all and only the whirls/eddies in the painting are taken into account in this work, following Richardson-Kolmogorov's cascade picture of turbulence,” Ma and his colleagues noted. This rigorous approach confirmed that Van Gogh’s representation of energy moving from large swirls to smaller ones closely aligns with physical laws that govern turbulent flows.
Art, Science, and the Human Connection
The connection between Van Gogh’s work and fluid dynamics deepens our appreciation of his artistry. While The Starry Night doesn’t physically move like a liquid, it conjures an almost tactile sensation of movement, engaging viewers in an unending, silent dialogue. This newfound understanding reminds us that art and science, often considered opposites, share a profound relationship. Both seek to explore and reveal the unseen patterns that shape our world.
The Peggy Experience: Art That Resonates
At Peggy, we believe in the power of original artworks to touch and transform. Just as Van Gogh’s The Starry Night holds a unique place at the intersection of art and nature, many contemporary pieces carry that same potential to capture universal patterns and emotions.
One example from our collection is Every body wants what they can't have by Qaid Holman. This striking piece features bold, expressive brushstrokes and deep blues that embody the dynamic, flowing movement reminiscent of Van Gogh’s celestial vision.
Another compelling work is Tectonic Plates under the Ocean by Grin Dozy. This acrylic painting captures the underlying energy and dynamics of tectonic plates beneath the ocean, with swirling patterns and overlapping layers of blue and green symbolizing the continuous movement and shifting of these geological features. The artwork vividly portrays the unseen yet powerful forces at play below the ocean’s surface, echoing Van Gogh’s intuitive depiction of natural chaos.
Browse original artworks and discover pieces that don’t just speak to you but resonate with the hidden patterns of the world, uniting the beauty of art with the intricate dance of nature.
