Night Sky Landscapes

Starlight Night The Starry Night Kilimanjaro

Georgia O'Keeffe Vincent van Gogh Wolfgang Tillmans
1917 1889, 2012
Watercolor Oil on canvas Photograph/Inkjet on Paper
10 1/2 x 14 inches 73.7 x 92.1 cm 30.5 x 40.6 cm
http://indulgy.com/post/D06SmyLEj1/georgia-okeeffe-starlight-night http://totallyhistory.com/the-starry-night/ http://www.artnet.com/artists/wolfgang-tillmans/kilimanjaro-a-pZtdERLdoC0hFvJIGHA7WQ2
First Impression:
When I first saw this watercolor painting, I did not recognize I was familiar to this piece as it is one of the famous When I first saw this photograph, I wondered why its title was
it as a night sky landscape as of its abstractness, and the square masterpieces of Van Gogh. I liked the use of blue and the Kilimanjaro as the mountain itself is such a small element
spaces in between the blue watercolor was mysterious and swirly look that the paint creates in the sky., as well as the inside the artwork. My eyes were laid on the wide landscape of
eye-catching. different sized stars that were painted in yellow. the night sky., rather than the mountain itself.
Through this comparative analysis, I am going to observe and investigate three different landscapes by three artists The three artworks are The Starry Night, an oil painting by Vincent Van Gogh, Starlight
Night, a water color painting by Georgia O'Keeffe, and Kilimanjaro, a piece of photography by Wolfgang Tillmans. The connection and theme that underpins these artworks is the “night sky” as the two
paintings and one photograph are night sky landscapes. I have an interest in night skies myself as I love to observe them. I believe they take you out of modern life today, where artificial neon lights fill up your
sight, and the lack of nature and tranquility. The theme of “nature “ is also a common idea among the artworks .
I chose these two artists as I was familiar with some of Van Gogh’s works including The Starry Night, and I had a little knowledge about his background. What I like about the artwork in general, are the thick
and heavy strokes, and the contrast of color Van Gogh establishes. I wanted to investigate night sky landscapes, thus I decided to study Starlight Night by Georgia O'Keeffe, looking into something different
which is unique from other landscapes. Also, compare and contrast it with a completely opposing media which is photography in which I chose Kilimanjaro from Wolfgang Tillmans.
Artwork and Context
ABOUT STARLIGHT NIGHT
As O’Keeffe did not
practice watercolor for her
whole career, it was a
turning point and large
influence to her before her
works became famous. As
she moved in and out of
West Texas, into a town
called Canyon, around
1916, the skies there
fascinated her to a large
extent. As she taught in
West Texas State Normal
College, she created 51
watercolors; the established
works including Starlight
Night, were later published
as the “Canyon Suite”.
O’Keeffe established this art piece as
she was fascinated by the big sky,
wild lightning, and barren terrain of
Canyon in West Texas during the two
years she lived there.
It can be seen that her experience here
and moving between many
prefectures has largely influenced her.
The time O’Keeffe stayed in Canyon
was truly a significant period through
her life; it was a period of searching
for her selfhood. Her inspiration can
be observed by the fact that her work
had retained clarity and detail when
she moved back to New York.
Although she gained the most fame in
New York and is forever linked to her
hometown New Mexico, O'Keeffe
spoke fondly of Texas through later
years.
“Starlight Night” by Georgia O’Keeffe
ABOUT O’KEEFFE
George O`Keeffe was an American artist who was born on November 15, 1887 and played an
important role in the expansion of American modernism in the early twentieth century; she was
called the “Mother of American modernism”. Her most recognized works are close-up paintings
of colorful flowers, New York skyscrapers, and landscapes.
In 1915, getting a career as a teacher in Columbia College in South Carolina, O’Keeffe started
to follow Dow’s theory of art from the natural world. In 1916, O’Keeffe was introduced to
Alfred Stieglitz, another significant American photographer, later becoming her husband, that
has influenced her in her career and private life. By the time O’Keeffe and Stieglitz encountered
a love affair, there were over 300 photographs of O’Keeffe taken by Stieglitz. As a famous artist
and dealer, he promoted her work and even checked on the trader if they were qualified to buy
her works. This unique partnership both as lovers and artists helped shape the art world
throughout this period in a significant way. O’Keeffe became famous in Stieglitz’s gallery 291
in 1916 and 1917 which was when she produced Starlight Night as well.
In search for a visual language she could freely express herself and her ideas, she started a series of abstract charcoal drawings in
1915. O’Keeffe found that this abstraction was her personal visual language and she gained satisfaction with this. Her finding was a
radical break of American tradition, and O’Keeffe is known to be on of the very first artists to practice pure abstraction in America.

SOCIETY AT THE TIME Georgia O’Keeffe: a portrait, Alfred

Stieglitz, 1918
platinum photograph
At that time, when O’Keeffe was a student, many of her male colleagues and society as a 24.6cm x 19.7cm
whole, expected female students to become art teachers, not famous artists. http://www.theartstory.org/artist-
She pursued her art career in a discipline dominated by men, who were critical against female okeeffe-georgia.htm
artists. Regardless of the social oppression during the time, she illustrated both detailed and
abstract works arising from her ability and ‘freedom’ of expression as her life experiences
significantly influenced her artworks including Starlight Night when she visited West Texas.
“The men liked to
Moreover, this social background may have led O’Keeffe to go into feminism in her later put me down as the
years of work, and this has been initiated during these few years of practicing watercolor as
she illustrated her own nudes along with landscapes in Texas. best woman painter.
This difficulty regarding social norms at the time, have influenced O’Keeffe to illustrate
natural forms with harmony and balance, and investigate her own style throughout her life as
I think I’m one of the
her watercolor works were no more than her preliminary works through her successful artist best painters”
life. Since the 1920s, her work has attained more fame, due, in part, to the feminist movement (Chadwick, Women, Art, and
and its reclamation and re-evaluation of women’s history and art career. Society, 2013).
Artwork and Context “The Starry Night” by Vincent van Gogh
ABOUT VAN GOGH
Being one of the most famous post-impressionist painter,
Vincent Van Gogh was a great Dutch painter notable for his
astonishing and outstanding works. His life is known to be
crazy as he faced many struggles through mental illness and
was unknown as an artist at the time. Vincent Van Gogh was
born on March 30,, 1853. In 1888, Van Gogh decided to go
south to Arles where he hoped his friends would join him and
help found a school of art. It was between the years 1860~1880,
he decided to become an artist. He went to Belgium to study
art, determined to give happiness by creating beauty. In 1888,
Van Gogh moved to Arles where he planned to build an art
school with his friends. Although, his hard working
characteristic and difficulties regarding working with his
friends led to his mental illness and madness. Within an year,
he went to an asylum in Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, France, where
he painted The Starry Night. He died in 1890 from a self-
inflicted gunshot wound. This night sky landscape is known as
the view from the window at this asylum.
Image 1:Electrical light bulb invented
VAN GOGH & CHRISTIANITY
ABOUT THE STARRY NIGHT SOCIETY AT THE TIME: CONTEMPORARY STYLE vs. HIS STYLE
The Starry Night shows his comprehensive and prohibited Speaking of Van Gogh’s style at that time, his works were
view of the night sky. At the time in the late nineteenth
unrecognized and even criticized to be sloppy and childish, and were
century, many street lights were renovated from gas to compared to many of his contemporaries which created realistic and
electric lights. Van Gogh treasured the nature view of the photo-like artworks. Other artists of the time, were into landscapes
streets without any hindrance from these innovative and portraits that looked realistic in the mid-nineteenth century.
changes, spending a lot of time to depict the stars. Unlike his contemporaries, Van Gogh maintained his style to use
expressive brushstrokes to articulate his thoughts and feelings to
The primary stylistic reveal his own impressions he had for the primary objects he painted.
influence of the time The landscape, The Starry Night presents his style to a high extent,
was neo-Impressionism, and it shows how he was ahead of time as Expressionism, was one of
which impacted Van the significant art movements in the twentieth century. As of his great
Gogh to incorporate Expressionist and contemporary style, his works were not appreciated
bright and vibrant colors and recognized during his life time.
in his artwork which can
be seen in The Starry 5
3 8
Night from its 9 10
brightness of the stars.
4

Throughout the art piece, some biblical references can be observed and 11
perceived, as Van Gogh, himself was a religious man. The Starry Night
7
reflects not just negative emotions and isolation, but it also conveys the
feeling of hope. This concealed allusion is said to be the moon and stars that
are illustrated and surrounded by halos of light. 1
The eleven stars illustrated in the painting, is a referent to Genesis 37.9 in the
2
6
Bible, where Joseph was sold by his eleven older brothers, to slavery and was
confined. The connection to Van Gogh himself here, is this estrangement from
the outside world as he spent his last years of like in the asylum where he painted
The Starry Night. Van Gogh was never acknowledged for his efforts or
appreciated for his artworks, just like Joseph was never accepted by his
Vincent van Gogh eleven brothers. Van Gogh might have illustrated these eleven stars to convey
Self-Portrait, the absence of his pleasure toward his own works and how he felt that he was
1887
http://vincentvangoghg despised from the society. The stars up in the sky, may have been a symbol for
allery.blogspot.jp/ both desolation and hope for him.
 Artwork and Context “Kilimanjaro” by Wolfgang Tillmans
ABOUT TILLMANS
Wolfgang Tillman is a contemporary German artist born in 1968, known for his
wide range of media he uses through his works, initiating his artist career as a
“It is about a world so
painter. He has also gained fame from his LGBTQ participation, becoming a large and confused that
influencing advocate after the death of his partner, Jochen Klein. Kilimanjaro is a it cannot be reliably
photograph exhibited in his exhibition/publication, “Newe Welt” (New World)
which presents Tillmans’ photographs from his recent journeys. Mount imagined, imaged,
Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania, known to be the highest mountain believed, or
in the continent, Africa; its height is approximately 4900m to 5898m. This was
one of his destinations throughout his journey.
dreamed.”(Loomis, 2012)
SOCIETY NOW & HIS EXHIBITION
Tillmans has comprised the most growing potential of his medium, rather than using them to make his works innovative and
removed from reality. As he switches his medium to incorporate more digital technology, he tries to explore the very edges
of it. He also mentions that there are even rapid changes in inkjet printing technologies and Kilimanjaro reflects these
developments through the natural and meticulous object of stars in the night sky.

Wolfgang Tillmans’ Neue Welt (New World) is composed with diverse

Image 2: Wolfgang Tillmans
photographs taken from his journey. At first sight, they only seem to be a series of
snaps illustrating and tracking his trip. Yet, his works are complexly juxtaposed to
reveal the “interplay of abstraction and fanatic attention to themes and details”
(Loomis, 2012). Kilimanjaro is one of the works in this “web of relation” creating
the clear juxtaposition of the light and dark in our modern world. Some of the
other subjects in Tillmans’ works show high technology depicting sharpness and
ideal forms as similar to Kilimanjaro, and scenes of poverty, which create the
contrast of the shimmering light and dark in our world today.
The key to Tillmans’ artwork is the skill and ability to take abstract and natural
photos of foreign environments and the experience of being there, itself. The
ambiguity and non-specificity of the photograph allows the viewers to imagine and
place themselves somewhere in a position that is meaningful. Another way to
define it might be that Tillmans leaves the viewers to define what the work is to
them. This is exaggerated in the publication as he exhibits this idea through
arranging the abstract photographs, leaving the viewers unsure what to focus on.
ABOUT KILIMANJARO
Throughout the journey, Tillmans was strongly attached to the concept of
‘new’ and thus, he ended up traveling to many countries in Asia which was
relatively new to him.
He also had a lot of curiosity and interest towards astronomy in which
Kilimanjaro is a good example of one of the star photos he took. The title of
this piece of work is Kilimanjaro, straightly referring to Mt. Kilimanjaro;
although, the work primarily places its focus on the night sky full with
shimmering stars. Although the work brings down its message in a cosmic
scale, Tillmans piece is based on a small phenomena, how the art piece
could lead to a larger and better understanding of the new world. It does not
depict the connection of the subject of the photograph with Tillmans, but it
is rather communicating confusion that arises from the big world, inside the
huge web of humans and environments.
Compare and Contrast- ARTWORK AND CONTEXT
Artwork Starlight Night
Georgia O’Keeffe
Year created/ 1917
Artist’s United States of America
Nationality
These three artworks were made from artists who come from different backgrounds and from a different time period.
Social Context: O’Keeffe’s expressive and boundless expressionism and style
Audience’s of work rebelled to the social oppression towards woman
World artists at the time when woman were not expected to be
professional artists after pursuing their degree. Like Van
Gogh, she was a leading artist of a new social movement in
which she allowed herself to express herself freely, not
conforming to the society at the time.
Audience The freedom of expression is revealed throughout this work,
especially towards female viewers as O’Keeffe was strongly
influenced by the social oppression towards women at the
time.
Artist Georgiana O’Keeffe was born on November 15, 1887. As of
her supporting parents who appreciated art, she studies at the
Art Institute of Chicago and the Art Students League in New
York. Her later husband, Alfred Stieglitz gave O'Keeffe her
first gallery show in 1916. 2 years before this exhibition, while
she taught art in South Carolina and West Texas, she began a
series of abstract charcoal drawings.
Artist’s World Starlight Night is a very personal piece of work as O’Keeffe
was fascinated by the big sky full with stars at West Texas,
Canyon where she later mentions as her spiritual home. She
was able to attain her selfhood here and this work was one of
her works during her turning point as an artist as well.
A common aspect amongst these three night sky landscape artworks is that they depict an actual landscape that the viewer is observing: the night sky at Canyon in Starlight Night, the view from the asylum in The
Starry Night, and a view through a journey in Kilimanjaro.
The Starry Night
Vincent Van Gogh
1889
Netherlands
Many of his contemporaries and works done by other artists at the time,
had a completely different style than Van Gogh. They were realistic and
photo-like drawings whereas, Van Gogh’s works were a leading figure of
Expressionism, using dynamic brushstrokes and non-realistic drawings. A
similar aspect to Tillman’s Kilimanjaro is the comprehensive view and
depiction of the night sky rebelling to new innovated electric street lights
at the time.
The significance of this work can be understood by many people at the
time, sensitive to new coming innovations, in which Van Gogh’s work
treasured the natural and conventional appearance.
Both of the works have a contrast of light and dark, and have a rebelling message towards the contemporary world at the time the artist was living.
Vincent Van Gogh was born on March 30,, 1853. During the years
1860~1880 he decided to become an artist and went to Belgium to study
art, determined to give happiness by creating beauty. In 1888, Van Gogh
moved to Arles where he planned to build an art school with his friends
which later caused many difficulties for him that lead to his mental illness
and madness. He died in 1890 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound when
he was hospitalized in an asylum in Spain.
Van Gogh stayed in a mental hospital, Saint-Paul-de-Mausole, in France,
where he painted The Starry Night . He suffered from isolation from the
outside world and lack of acceptance and appreciation he got from his
artworks during his lifetime which is the biggest inspiration of his work.
Kilimanjaro
Wolfgang Tillmans
2012
Germany
Tillmans’ wanted to reveal the two sides of light and dark in our
modern world throughout his works. Kilimanjaro is one of his works
that depict the bright side of our world by the shimmering stars. The
piece of photography reveals the beauty of nature, but at the same
time, it compares itself to social issues in our modern world. He does
not go against any social upheavals like the other two works, but
rather depicts a positive side of our world.
The work’s audience are assumingly contemporary audience who
live in developed countries as Tillmans expects viewers to see the
distinction of this work to his other works portraying the light and
dark side of our modern world today.
Wolfgang Tillmans is born on August 16, 1968.
In 1990 he moved to England, to study art for two years at
Bournemouth and Poole College of Art and Design.
Later, he moved to London and to New York in 1994, where he met
the German painter Jochen Klein, his lifelong partner who died of
AIDS in 1997. Since then, he has been engaged in many
LGBTQ/HIV activities.
Tillmans’ emphasizes that the work should not be seen from a
photographer's perspective but a traveler point-of-view which is
different from the other two works which are hugely based on the
artist’s perspective. Although, he mentions that surely, the dark side
of his artworks comes from Klien’s death. Since the death of his
partner, his work gained political messages which might have led
him to be rebellious against social norms and have a broader
perspective.
More about their world’s and influences, and Comparison
As O’Keeffe was largely influenced by her tutor, Arthur Wesley Dow, who was an American painter, O’Keeffe/Van Gogh
photographer and teacher that is known for his beliefs in Japanese principles of art. As an educator, he O’Keeffe and Van Gogh were
disliked teaching arts in a way that have to do with copying nature. Instead, he believed that anyone can both influenced by Japanese
create wonderful artworks, from personal feelings articulated through line, color, and value all balanced
out. He emphasized that the most important thing is “beauty”. He influenced O’Keeffe in her young ages to “Starlight Night” principles of art that lead to its
abstract style.
experiment and explore with abstraction.
Up to that time, O’Keeffe believed that there was no significance in traditional realism and trying to paint
by Georgia Although, O’Keeffe’s work is
more influenced by her teachers
realistically. Although, after obtaining Dow’s teachings, her perception of the world, and her style of art O’Keeffe and other artists, whereas Van
changed significantly. In 1915, getting a career as a teacher in Columbia College in South Carolina, Gogh’s work is completely rooted
O’Keeffe started to follow Dow’s theory of art from the natural world. to his own emotion and thoughts.

In the year 1854, Japan returned to resume trading with the west and at that time, Japanese artworks, mainly
Tillmans/Van Gogh
fans, woodcuts, and screen were introduced to Europe. Spreading mainly around France and Netherlands, and
More social influence can be
through the 1860’s, the ukiyo-e woodblock prints became well known and Van Gogh, along with many other
seen in Tillmans’ work where
artists, were inspired by them.
These woodblock prints had a great influence in his works when he was introduced to impressionism and “The Starry Night” there is flexibility in its
perception whereas, there is
investigated Japonism, at Paris. He was attracted to the bold patterns, strong and solid colors shaded, and thin by Vincent van Gogh more personal influence in
clear-cut lines. This influence can also be seen in The Starry Night, as the mountains and group of dwellings
Van Gogh’s work
have solid black outlines. Just like the ukiyo-e woodcut style, the black lines here are simple and act as frames
communicating his loneliness.
for the shapes and figures.

O’Keeffe/Tillmans
The abstractness is
completely opposed to
photography. Although, the
“Kilimanjaro” freedom of expression and
In the late 1980’s Tillmans started to take photos of gay nightlife and clubs, which were submitted and by Wolfgang Tillmans perception of the artwork
published on a contemporary culture and fashion magazine in Britain, i-D magazine. Tillmans mentions both rebel to social norms of
that he found excitement through the experience, and felt that the portrayal of these places and scenes have sexuality. Moreover, they
changed certain perspectives toward gay rights in the 80’s and 90’s. His experience as part of the LGBTQ both capture a moment during
society, and his loss of his partner, triggered him to explore the light and dark of the current world. a journey when they are
influenced.
Interpretation of Function, and Purpose
GEORGIA O’KEEFEE
The main function of Starlight Night in particular, was
to express O’Keeffe’s excitement and astonishment of
the desert night sky and shining stars at Palo Duro
Canyon. O’Keeffe was not influenced by fluctuating art
trends at the time, and stayed independent in her own
thoughts, which was illustrating fundamental forms of
nature abstractly.
Her watercolors including Starlight Night allowed her to
do this, as these new works of hers had a purpose to
bring “naturalness” on her works and stand away from
the former depiction of realistic photo-like paintings.
Later on through her artist career her water colors in
West Texas can be perceived as a prelude to her success
and fame later when she moved to New York.
VINCENT VAN GOGH
The Starry Night has a function to depict Van Gogh’s own feelings
and ambitions during the years of isolation when he stayed at the
asylum. Although, Van Gogh explains this masterpiece to be not one of
the important pieces of art that he made, The Starry Night has become
an icon of bright and lively expression in modern paintings today. It also
has the purpose of showing the natural brightness of the world, rebelling
to electric lights that were innovated at the time.
It is known that Van Gogh had an idea to paint a blue night sky with
bright stars many months before he actually painted Starry Night around
early July in the year 1889. He faced challenges to paint an outdoor night
landscape; his first attempt of painting a full night sky is known to be
Starry Night over the Rhone which had been a prelude to The Starry
Night. This work has the purpose to articulate Van Gogh`s forever
passion and desire towards drawing night landscapes.
Starry Night over the Rhone
Vincent van Gogh,
1888, oil on canvas,
72 x 92 cm
https://www.khanacademy.org/hu
manities/becoming-
modern/avant-garde-france/post-
impressionism/a/van-gogh-the-
starry-night,
WOLFGANG TILLMANS
The purpose of the photograph, Kilimanjaro, as a piece from
the series of photos, is to depict how chaotic and large the
whole world is. He shows the beauty of the world and uses
this particular piece to create contrast with his other works. It
shows the “never-ending sky” which “cannot be reliably
imagined, images, believed, or dreamed.” The photos
articulate how “nature is effortless” from not a perspective of
an artistic photographer, but rather a traveler point-of-view.
(Loomis, 2012)
His purpose of the work is also to make the viewers look at
the photograph in their own and new, distinct way from
others. The artwork is completely ‘neutral’ with no emotions
of the artist attached to it, so the viewers can find their own
perception, which is different from the other works.
“I think the primary function for me of a photograph is that
it allows me to think about the world in a non-verbal way
which is very direct and at the same time incredibly subtle.”
(Phaidon,2013)
Function and Purpose: Theme, Symbolism and Meaning
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
Theme: As of O'Keeffe's experience, the theme of Starlight
Night is the attainment of selfhood and magnificence of
nature.
Symbolism: The use of negative space in the blue web-work,
articulate the stars in the night sky. The shape of the stars
are squares, formed in between the thick watercolor lines.
This symbolizes materiality in which the number of corners
of a square, four, represents several things. Firstly, it is a
symbol for four directions, north, south, east, and west,
paralleling to O’Keeffe’s explorative life, moving to many
places through her life. The shape also implies the idea of
manifesting ideas into reality, and implementing plans which
also connects to O’Keeffe as the grand canyon depicted in
this work, marked a turning point in her artistic career. The
series of works she created here, through her experience, has
a function of re-evaluating and renewing her own work and
style which has been lost and switched rapidly before she
visited Canyon.
VINCENT VAN GOGH WOLFGANG TILLMANS
Theme: The theme of solitude and isolation can be seen Theme: Tillmans explored the theme of new and
in the painting as Van Gogh has struggled being an individuality in the work, Kilimanjaro, as Tillmans
unappreciated artist and felt loneliness and separation allows the viewers of the artwork to have a their own
from the society. distinct way of observing it.
Symbolism: A cypress tree is positioned
Symbolism: Tillman’s uses the medium itself to
at the foreground of the night sky. It
symbolize the technology and advancement of the
extends all the way up to the other end of
modern world. Tillmans’ mentions that the higher
the canvas, symbolizing the connection
resolution of digital photographs communicates "a
between the land and sky. Cypress trees
transformation in the whole world” (Tillmans,2012).
can also be a referent to graveyards and
The concept of ‘new’ in his series, including
feeling of grief which also shows how it
Kilimanjaro, is expressed here, as he started to use a
acts as a bridge between life and death
digital series for this series. The use of media develops
referring to heaven, in the painting. The
the concept and depicts the ‘modern’ world today.
11 stars in the night sky discussed earlier,
It also has a simple purpose to showing one scene
also have a biblical reference and is a
captured during Tillmans’ journey and trip to Mt.
symbolism of isolation and unacceptance
Kilimanjaro.
from society.
Comparing Function and Purpose
• This passion and individual
• Theme: Isolation and solitude thought into the artwork is
• It amplifies Van Gogh’s forever passion
and desire towards drawing night
Starry Night outstanding and does not parallel
with the other works.
landscapes.
• The continued work from Starry Night
Van Gogh • The cypress tree illustrated across
the painting symbolizes land and
over the Rhone. sky, and life and death.

• Both works were made to deviate

• All three works was made to show from and rebel to the picture-like
• Two works depict bright stars to
the landscape that the artist was style of paintings common during
reveal the concepts of light and
watching. the era that it was painted.
dark; it is the human soul for Van
• They orbit around the idea of • Both works articulate the artist’s
Gogh, and the world for Tillmans
“nature”, portraying the beauty of mind; a representation of
the night sky. loneliness and isolation for Van
Gogh, and moment of realization
for O’Keeffe.

• Theme: New and Individuality • Theme: Search for selfhood

• Depicts how chaotic and large
the whole world is, and the
world’s beauty.
Kilimanjaro • The purpose of the work is to
Wolfgang Tillmans make the viewers look at the
photograph in their own distinct
way from others.
• Media itself symbolizes the
technology and advancement of
the modern world.
• Both works reveal the
artist’s pleasure and
excitement towards
the landscape.
• Depicts a moment in
their “journey”
and magnificence of nature
• Expresses O’Keeffe’s
excitement towards the desert
night sky and shining stars at Starlight Night
Palo Duro Canyon.
• Illustrating fundamental Georgia O’Keeffe
forms of nature abstractly
• Squares symbolizes her
exploration through her life
and turning point of her life.

SPACE:
As O‘Keeffe mentions a lot about the
wonderful stars in the night sky at West
Texas, Canyon as a remarkable
inspiration, at its first sight, there are no
bright ‘stars’ seen in Starlight Night.
Instead of illustrating the stereotypical
yellow stars, O’Keeffe illustrated them
through the gaps created in the watery
blue sky of the watercolor painting.
Space is used here to show the stars that
O’Keeffe found inspirational, in a very
simple way. Space used in this artwork
depends on the viewers perception,
rather they look at the huge blue web-
work, the stars, or the whole night sky
as the primary object of the piece.
The stars illustrated by the space
between the big web-work of blue, can
be interpreted as both positive and
negative space because she didn’t paint
these areas purposely, but they are still
the primary object of the painting as the
purpose of this artwork was to depict
these stars.
SHAPE: The shapes used in this
artwork can be described as both
organic and geometric. The spaces
have a square shape which is
geometric, although, since it
illustrates natural stars, they all have
slightly different shapes, which have
different sizes, curves, and edges
making them organic. The diversity
of these shapes created by the spaces,
show the infinite variety of starts in
the spreading night sky.
LINE:
Visual Analysis The lines used throughout this work look consistent and
unchanging, but it rather establishes a background for the stars and
COMPOSITION: creates clear and unseen borders through the work. These lines are
The composition of this artwork looks simple, but it is actually drawn with constant speed not leaving any water marks behind.
complex at the same time since its color is built up from the natural All the lines are connected creating one big rectangle, and there is
spread of watercolor, rather than its brushstrokes. The composition one thick line on the bottom which differentiates itself from the
is rather static as of its symmetric balance and consistency which is thinner lines on the top; shows the border between the sky. There
built up with the lines which are connected to establish a web work are no particular brushstrokes that are not part of the web-work
of stars. The pattern and the gradient of dark to light tone of blue and they and the lack of markings that are made, creates the
from the top to bottom of the web-work also helps the artwork to be abstractness and simplicity of the artwork. There are no curvy lines
stable. used throughout the artwork, only vertical and horizontal lines that
PATTERN: perpendicularly intersect with each other.
This artwork has a clear pattern that can be seen; in fact, the whole artwork can be said to be a pattern. The
stars established by the spaces are equally aligned in rows and columns by the lines that are connected to each
other inside the web-work. This creates a rough pattern where there is equal space between each star, the
gradient also exaggerates this as the saturation of the blue color changes consistently throughout the whole
artwork from top to bottom.
COLOR AND TONE: There are different values of
blue used throughout the artwork which create a
beautiful gradient from the top to bottom of the web-
work. The tone of blue changes from dark to light as it
goes down the artwork. The blue with the darkest tone
can be observed in the most middle-top of the web-
work and the lightest at the very bottom edges of it. The
different values of blue used in the gradient abstractly RHYTHM:
depicts the depth of the sky and how far it reaches The intersecting horizontal and vertical lines
down, portraying the extension of the spectacular sky. establishes the rhythm of the whole artwork
Moreover, the bottom thick band has a rather black-like which creates consistency to communicate the
dark toned blue which creates contrast to the light blue infinite spreading of the night sky. The
above it. This contrast and change in tone of the color repetition of the lines that create the big web-
work attract the viewer’s eyes and adds interest
Starlight Night blue throughout the gradient, creates the movement of
the artwork. It allows the viewers to observe the higher to the work as well..
Georgia O'Keeffe
TEXTURE: area of the sky that is dark and then move down to the As of its consistency and balanced composition,
The texture of the watercolor is smooth as nothing lighter blue, from top to bottom of the web-work. there is no emphasis in the artwork that draws
disturbs the clear gradient of the watercolor paint. The O’Keeffe plays with the density and saturation of color viewers to particular areas of the artwork.
smoothness depicts naturalness and clearness of the sky. creating an appealing but still natural shade of blue Instead, the whole artwork gains equal
Although, the artwork’s texture is prickly at the same which also reinforces the existence of the spaces, the attention, especially because the main element
time as the bare yellowish paper creates an antique stars illustrated in the sky. of the work are the stars that can be seen in the
atmosphere and old appearance that evokes nostalgia. entire piece.
SHAPE:
There are both organic and
geometric shapes in this artwork as
the alps, tree, and swirls have curvy
shapes as they are found in nature.
Conversely, the group of dwellings
and each house is simplified into
simple cubic shapes as it is not the
main subject of the painting. The
use of curvy lines for the focal
points catches the viewers attention
and creates contrast between the
town which has simple cubic
figures.
TONE:
Looking at the value of the painting as a
whole, it can be seen that the bottom
portion is darker than the top. As Van
Gogh painted this from the window of
the asylum, it can be observed that he
can look down the town which is closer
to him than the mountains. This physical
distance and gradient of darkness,
portrays how he is distant from hope and
his forlorn thoughts. The darkness and
contrast with the bright stars also
emphasize his desire and wish to go to
the outside world.
The Starry Night
Vincent van Gogh Visual Analysis
LINE: The white swirly lines seen in the night sky can be perceived as a nebula, which is a representation
of Van Gogh‘s swirling’ emotions and wondering thoughts of life and death. These visual elements, sure
let viewers understand his belief that the night sky is “much more alive and richly colored than the
day.” Van Gogh uses short and thick lines to illustrate the night sky and fills the whole canvas with
them. The use of heavy brush strokes symbolizes his rebellious behavior towards the society
which did not appreciate his works at the time. His revolutionary style of work
communicates his struggles at the time and brings appreciation to modern viewers today.
MOVEMENT:
The curvy and thick lines created by the heavy
brushstrokes establishes movement of the
artwork where the viewers can perceive the
mystical flow of the night sky. The white color
distinguished from the blue, also allows the
viewers to follow the artwork accordingly to the
COLOR: There are different tones of blue and white seen in nebula. The different tones of blue mixed with
this work. The white blends in with the blue in the sky by the the white brushstrokes create several movements
thick lines and creates contrast with the white clouds and in the night sky. There is a circular movement PATTERN/MOVEMENT:
dark blue alps. The bright yellow color of the stars allow seen around each star, established by the yellow This work employs a repetitive device
them to stand out in the dark blue sky as well. dashes that lighten up the dark sky.
using lines which can be explicitly seen
COMPOSITION/BALANCE: in the alps and dwellings. There are
The wavy alps painted were not actually seen from the asylum’s multiple black lines filling the roofs and
window, but are said to be illustrated by Van Gogh’s imagination. It alps on the bottom half of the artwork,
is told that he has incorporated elements from his previous works that create a slanted stripe pattern. It
placed at his studio and from memory. also creates another movement of the
The church seen in the town which he looks upon, is one of the work, differing from the swirls.
components that he had been depicting in his earlier works at TEXTURE:
Netherlands as well. The overall composition of this work is dynamic The heavy brushstrokes used in Starry Night
as different movements created by the brushstrokes interlink with establishes a rough texture and emphasize the
each other and there are several focal points including the cypress flow of the work especially the night sky. The
tree, 11 stars and the moon, and the swirl in the sky. Moreover, some UNITY:
texture is also bumpy which is created by his
These curvy lines also create unity
elements of this artwork follows the rule of thirds. The free main use of oil paint on the canvas. The thickly
within the work acting as a border
elements, cypress tree, nebula, and the moon are placed in each applied paint creates this heavy and rough,
vertical strands of thirds. The center of the swirling nebula and between the town and the night sky. The
bumpy texture throughout the work.; it is one of
alignment of the alps, also fit the horizontal lines when the artwork is dark cypress tree is in the foreground
the essential elements unique to his
equally divided into thirds. This composition is asymmetrically extends all the way up to the night sky,
revolutionary style of work at the time, rebelling
which also articulates the distance of the
balanced through the placements of the different components. to the social norms in the artist’s world.
town to the night sky.
 SPACE:
There is no negative space created in this artwork as it LINE:
Visual Analysis
is a photograph. Although, there is a lot of positive There are implied lines seen in the subjects of the photograph. The trees and Mt.
space above the subjects of the trees and mountain Kilimanjaro create these lines which can be seen as the tones of the foreground and
where there is space with numerous stars in the night background differ. There are many detailed and complex lines especially for the trees
sky. This whole space is used to show the extent of the that are in the foreground.
shimmering starts and emphasize the widespread sky.
SHAPE:
There are only organic shapes in this
artwork as it is a unedited photograph
of a natural landscape . The shapes are
enclosed which curvy and round lines
such as the trees and Mt. Kilimanjaro
COMPOSITION/BALANCE:
which can be seen in the bottom of the
The composition of this artwork is stable and goes along
work. The organic shapes in the
with the rule of thirds. The night sky occupies the top
foreground bring naturalness and the
two-thirds of the artwork and the bottom third includes
bumps seen, establish the flow in the
the trees and Mt. Kilimanjaro. Therefore, there is balance
work as well.
seen in the artwork as the two sides are asymmetric, but
RHYTHM: they balance out by the components in the foreground.
TEXTURE: The forms of the trees and mountain in the The tree in the left hand side and the mountain align with
The texture seen is smooth as the work is a printed foreground establishes rhythm for the the vertical line on the right of the thirds. Also, the trees
photograph and the photo itself has no physical media artwork. The black trees in the foreground, on the far left and far right sides, have a higher height
such as paint, applied to it. There are no three- and Mt. Kilimanjaro in the midground which also creates this balance.
dimentional figures and the subjects look 2D as well. both create consistency as there are
recurring rises and drops in the figures. Kilimanjaro
COLOR & TONE: There are different tones of
Wolfgang Tillmans
black that is seen throughout the photograph. COUNTERPOINT:
The tone of color gets lighter from the bottom The brightness of the stars and the whole night sky that covers
right corner to the top left of the night sky. The two thirds of the photograph, are made more intense by the
foreground trees have a solid black color counterpoint. The darker trees and Mt. Kilimanjaro in the
whereas the mountain is slightly lighter. The foreground which dominate the bottom third of the artwork,
photograph has darker tone in the bottom and allow the night sky to appear more lucid and bright. Moreover,
lighter at the top. Also, the night sky has a some viewers might question how the title of this piece of artwork
gradient where the blue-black color gets lighter is Kilimanjaro, when the actual mountain is very small and not
as it goes down. The stars are seen like white emphasized in any way. This lack of representation and link of
dots which stand out as it is surrounded by the the title and photograph itself, is what actually fulfills the artist’s
dark tones. The photo is dominated by the intention of not setting the audience’s perception. The ambiguity NOTE: Figure 3 is edited (+20% Brightness)
brightness of the stars in the night sky, which and non-specificity allows the viewers to interpret the photograph so discussed points could be clearly seen.
seems to have been the intention of Tillmans. in their own personal way.
 Formal Elements: COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Artwork/Formal Starlight Night
Element Georgia O’Keeffe
Line O’Keeffe uses thick lines which are more thicker
and less detailed than Starry Night. There are
horizontal and vertical lines which are
perpendicular and go in the same direction.
Color and Tone The artwork uses blue just like Starry Night,
although, only blue and not yellow for the stars. The
gradient of the night sky is similar to the real night
sky in the photograph Kilimanjaro.
Shape There are squares established by the spaces which
illustrate the stars, although some are curvy and
slanted which make them organic. There is a lack of
variety of shapes used in the piece compared to the
other two.
Texture The implied texture of the artwork is smooth as the
clear gradient of watercolor creates a smooth look.
However, the actual texture is prickly due to the
water applied to the paper and old yellow
appearance of the paper.
Space Space is used in a unique way in this artwork as the
stars is space created by the perpendicular lines.
Thus, the subjects can be defined as both positive
and negative space, which is a big difference from
the other two works.
Composition The composition of this artwork is stable and very
simple as of its consistency of lines and a gradient
from top to bottom. It is relatively symmetrical
compared to the other two works.
The Starry Night
Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh uses heavy brushstrokes to create thick and short
lines especially for the swirls in the night sky. There are also
diagonal lines on the roofs of the houses which create a stripe-
like pattern and flow of the work.
This artwork uses blue and yellow colors for the night sky
which are stereotypical colors of the sky and stars. There are
different tones of blue used in the work but not a clear gradient
is seen from dark to light down the sky just like the other two
works.
The composition consists of many different shapes both
geometric and organic as there are cubic figures for the
dwellings, and curvy shapes for the tree, alps, and the night sky
itself.
The heavy brushstrokes create a rough texture which contrasts
to the other two works that look smooth. The paint is applied to
make the actual texture bumpy throughout the whole work.
There is no negative space seen in this artwork as the media
fills the canvas. There is less space between the subjects in the
painting and is relatively packed and filled compared to
Kilimanjaro in which there are just numerous stars that fill the
sky.
The composition of this artwork is very dynamic as it consists
of serval eye-catching movements created by the thick lines.
There is also emphasis of the eleven stars which differ from the
other two works.
Kilimanjaro
Wolfgang Tillmans
As the artwork is a photograph, there are no geometric lines but
instead there are implied lines seen in the subjects of the trees and
Mt. Kilimanjaro. The actual stars are not lines , thus this differs
from the other two artworks as they both use line to illustrate the
night sky with the stars.
The night sky photographed has different tones of black where the
foreground trees and bushes are lack shadows and the mountain is
grey. Any tone of blue is not used unlike the other two works.
Although, there is a gradient of color seen from top to bottom of
the sky, just like Starlight Night.
There are only natural shapes in this artwork as the media is
photography. Unlike the other two works, there are no straight
lines that create geometric shapes.
The texture is smooth as the printed inkjet work of the photograph
has equally distributed ink on paper. There is no bumpy texture
nor prickly texture that the other two works have.
There is no negative space in the artwork similar to Starry Night
although the subjects do not fill the piece. There is a lot of space
in the sky which do not have any lines and just stars which make
the positive space of the sky over half of the piece.
The framed composition of the photograph is well balanced and
stable as two-thirds of the landscape is the night sky and the other
portion consists of other subjects such as the trees and the
mountain.
 My Work and O’Keeffe
This is a piece I made to practice the use of watercolor. I made this
because I wanted to express my excitement and astonishment towards
stage lighting of concerts. My artwork is based on personal experience
when I visited a huge stadium, which parallels with O’Keeffe as she
painted her artwork when visited West Texas; they both reflect the
moment and view of the place. It has the same function to O’Keeffe’s
work as Starlight Night has the function to express O’Keeffe’s excitement
and astonishment of the desert night sky and shining stars at the Canyon.

Concentrated
Stage Lights
2017
Watercolor on
Paper
Breakwater
As O’Keeffe simplified the stars in the night 2017
sky into the shape of squares established by Acrylic paint
the space between the blue web-work, I also on canvas
simplified natural objects into simple
Okayama Castle III
geometric shapes in this artwork; the
2017
breakwater into a trapezium, the wave into a
Dry point etching printed with Acrylic paint
triangle, and the surfboard into an oval.
I used a similar style to O’Keeffe
in this dry-point etching piece as The background color of light blue
I made the darkest color to come and Van Gogh is the same from the top and the
on the very bottom of the artwork, bottom to symbolize the connection
of the sky and ocean just like The
I did not make any borders similar to O’Keeffe’s work as I depicting the lake under the
castle. Like Starry Night, there is Starry Night.
wanted to express the magnificence and outstretching
beams and glows of the lights. The connection to no clear border between the sky
O’Keeffe’s work’s theme is seen here, as she wanted to and the boldness of the color
express the magnificence of the night sky at Grand Canyon creates contrast with the lighter
colors and exaggerates them. I
through the borderless web-work of the blue night sky.
also tried to keep the texture
Furthermore, I wanted to emphasize the infinite colors that
smooth like O’Keefe’s piece
is seen in these lights, so I made different combinations of
using the presser to put the paint
colors in the center of the lights and the sides of them. I into the etched board. There are The dark blue outlines of my artwork connect to Van
created many gradient of colors and made the change in no blocks of paint seen in the Gogh’s The Starry Night as he also used dark solid
color ambiguous and vague, creating gradations of color, work until the bottom which was lines to outline the mountains and dwellings since he
just like Starry Night. established by acrylic paint. was influenced by woodblock prints from Japan.
 My Work and Van Gogh
The theme associated with my artwork, Childhood
Petals, is “growth” and “development” where I got
an inspiration from the drawings of flowers I drew
when I was small. For this abstract piece of work, I
painted a flower established by a webwork of
geometric shapes made by diverging lines. This
shows the “growth” from my childhood, as my
previous drawings had no clear and distinct colors
used for the petals—but instead it mixed colors—
with no geometric shapes. This connects to the
concept and background of Van Gogh’s work as
Starry Night over the Rhone has been a prelude to
I used a similar style of painting as Van Gogh in this work. The lines I painted are curvy and thick just like The The Starry Night. My previous work had given me
Starry Night, as I used heavy brushstrokes. This creates the movement of the artwork that illustrates the dynamic an idea and has allowed me to develop it just like
view of the sky. The thick and short lines create a curvy flow around the moon in the center of the artwork as well; Van Gogh continued to convey his development
this shows how the moon is ‘embraced’ by the sky and the flow allows the viewers to focus on the yellow moon. and passion towards painting night landscapes.
Moreover, I also used different colors in the sky to emphasize the brushstrokes and create the movement of the
artwork. Although I did not use oil paint, the heavy brushstrokes I used, left thick paint on the canvas, which made a
similar rough texture to Van Gogh’s work.

Embraced Moon and Tillmans

2017
The connection to Tillmans’ work can also be seen in this artwork.
Acrylic paint on
Tillmans used his media, photography and ink jet printing, to
canvas symbolize the innovation, technology, and advancement of our world
today. I also used the change in media to symbolize the theme of the
artwork, “growth” and “development” in my piece, Childhood Petals.
In this piece, I was inspired by my own drawings of flowers that I drew
when I was a small child. I used to illustrate flowers using colored
pencils; changing the media from color pencils to acrylic paint in this
artwork, allowed me to draw more vivid and solid colors which
symbolizes maturity and development I gained throughout my
adolescent years.
Childhood Petals
2017
Acrylic paint on canvas
 I saw a connection with the foreground alps that are black in
My Work and Tillmans Tillmans’ artwork with my piece, as there are also trees and
mountains that stand in the foreground. The forms of the trees and
mountain in the foreground create rhythm in Kilimanjaro which
connects to my work as there is a similar rhythm in the artwork which
can be seen by the ups and downs of the shadows of trees .

I used the rule of thirds which one of the basic

principles of photography throughout this piece,
similar to Tillmans’ Kilimanjaro. I found some
connection from his work to the night sky when I
visited Cambodia, where there were trees in the
foreground which occupy the first-third of the
photograph. The darkness of the foreground
creates contrast to the bright sky, similar to
O’Keeffe’s work ran through my mind Kilimanjaro as well.
Sky: Cambodia
2017 when I saw the night sky during my
Photography visit to Cambodia. I found a correlation The tone of the sky also
of the blue color of the night sky to the parallels with Tillmans’
pure watercolor of her work. The piece as there is a blue-
blueness of the Sky: Cambodia and its black gradient from the top
gradient parallels with Starlight Night. left to the bottom right of
I realized that O’Keeffe’s depiction of
Kilimanjaro, and in my
the Canyon is very similar to the
landscape I saw: the tone of blue and
work, there is also a
and O’Keeffe its gradient, and the ambiguous border gradient as the blue sky gets
of dark and light tones of blue. darker in the top left and
lighter in the bottom right
Screen Shots from:
Through my video installation piece, I wrapped the model with fairy lights, Imprint
representing self-assertion and expression, ingraining the ‘self’ into blank space. 2018
Just like Tillmans’ Kilimanjaro, I made use of blank space using motion picture. Video Installation
Instead of utilizing space to show the extent of the widespread night sky, I
filmed space in a room and edited it to be black in order to exaggerate the light
of the small fairy lights—like the stars are emphasized in Tillmans’ work—
representing the ‘self’ being ‘imprinted’ into the space. As Tillmans’ work
succeeds to present a clear juxtaposition of the light and dark in our modern
world, I also made use of the contrast of light and dark throughout this artwork.
 Connections to My Other Works
My study into Vincent Van Gogh introduced me
to the expressionist style and abstract forms of
art. I liked the dynamic expression of objects
using paint, distorting them to establish an
emotional effect to evoke certain moods. This O’Keeffe’s Starlight Night effectively utilizes different
allowed me to investigate the artistic movement tones of blue through the web-work, which simplifies
derived from expressionism—supremacism. the sky and abstractly illustrates the depth of the sky.
Since the intent to Van Gogh’s, The Starry Night, My work also utilizes different tones of grey, which is
was to articulate his loneliness, I also aimed to an emotionally neutral color that symbolizes the
evoke my personal emotions through the work, breadth of emotions that our faces create, both
23:17, through conforming to the conventions of intentionally and unintentionally. Just like how
supremacism, using simple shapes and colors. In O’Keeffe painted the bottom thick band with a rather
this work, I prepared colors and shapes on black-like dark toned blue which creates contrast to the
impulse, expressing my instant emotional light blue above it, I used darker black colors for the
experience. Just like Van Gogh expressed his shadows and background. The watercolor used in
loneliness and sadness through The Starry Night, Starlight Night allows the tone of the painted blue to be
I intended to express my anguish and distress I inconsistent and patchy. Like this, my work also has a
experienced during my depression. background with an inconsistent tone of grey, to disturb
the clear flawless face, developing the
uncomfortableness of the face being turned into a mask.
Like Van Gogh’s The Starry Night,
movement plays an important role
in my artwork. In The Starry
Night, the viewers can follow the
mystical flow of the night sky
by the white color distinguished
from the blue, which emphasizes
the nebula. I also emphasized
the movement of the model
Screen Shots from: through my work, Imprint,
Imprint through editing, adjusting the
2018
speed of the footage to
Video Installation
0.5x~0.75x. The slow movement
in the artwork allows the
viewers to follow the model and
23:17
see her actions to its detail. The Face or Mask
2018
adjust in temperature creates a 2018
Acrylic paint blurring effect, which also trails Charcoal, Graphite
and paper the action of the model.