The story of Starry Night Starry Night, 1889 Vincent van Gogh painted Starry Night in 1889 during his stay at the asylum of SaintPaul-de-Mausole near SaintRĂŠmy-de-Provence. Van Gogh was allowed more freedoms than any of the other patients. If attended, he could leave the hospital grounds; he was allowed to paint, read, and withdraw into his own room. He was even given a studio. While he suffered from the occasional relapse into paranoia and fits - officially he had been diagnosed with epileptic fits - it seemed his mental health was recovering. Unfortunately, he relapsed. He began to suffer hallucination and have thoughts of suicide as he plunged into depression. Accordingly, there was a tonal shift in his work. He returned to incorporating the darker colors from the beginning of his career and Starry Night is a wonderful example of that shift. ~ 28
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