A research team from South Korea proposes that Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night reflects the predawn sky above Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, on July 22, 1889. The date is about a month later than the June timeframe often associated with the painting.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, draws on astronomical records and details in Van Gogh's letters, including references to cicadas, which are especially active in summer. The researchers argue that these clues point to a specific night sky that may have informed the work's swirling celestial scene.
The proposed date remains a hypothesis rather than a settled conclusion. Still, linking the painting to a particular night offers a fresh way to explore how observation of the natural world may have shaped Van Gogh's art. Further research could deepen the connections between astronomy, historical records and the stories behind celebrated works.
