Van Gogh Starry Night Lesson Plan
Effective art lessons go beyond creating artwork that is in the style of a well-known artist or that produces "cookie cutter" artwork. When creating an art lesson plan about Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night", consider how your lesson will guide students to understand context and find meaning before they create a personal and original work of art.
Other People Are Reading
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Goal
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What do you want students to know and remember after you teach the lesson? Pose a question that is specific to the artwork or artist, is engaging, promotes multiple responses and is remembered by students long after the lesson ends.
Motivation
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Gather images of some of van Gogh's famous paintings such as "Irises", "The Potato Eaters" and "Starry Night." (See References 1) To encourage closer observation and thoughtful responses, ask students to compare the subject matter, colors or other ideas seen in the chosen artworks. Avoid questions that can result in one-word responses; instead, ask open-ended questions specific to the images. For example, "What does each painting tell us about where van Gogh lived?"
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Details
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Focus upon "Starry Night" and provide details about the artwork. Painted in 1889, just months before van Gogh died, the 29 by 36 1/4-inch oil painting is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York. (See References 2)
Background Information
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Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist artist who saw little success during his lifetime. After his death he became one of the world's most famous painters. Van Gogh considered becoming a minister, but changed his mind and briefly studied art in Holland and Belgium. He soon moved to Paris and then later to the village of Arles. In Arles, van Gogh shared a house with fellow artist Paul Gauguin and produced some of his best-known works including "Starry Night." (See References 3)
Descriptive Language
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Guide students to describe and analyze exactly what they see in the artwork. Encourage the use of descriptive language and elaboration (for example, bright yellow stars somersault across a dark, night sky). This thoughtful communication about the artwork will result in personal interpretation of the painting.
Student Artwork
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After students investigate the ideas shown in "Starry Night" and understand van Gogh's place in history, provide students with drawing paper and markers. Review how van Gogh's paintings often show ideas about the people and places where he lived. "Starry Night" shows the night sky shortly before dawn. Instruct students to create an outdoor scene that shows ideas about where they live or go to school.
Extension
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Show students a selection of city scenes or landscapes painted before and after "Starry Night." Lead students to see how art styles changed over time. Why would "Starry Night" be rejected as art in 1889, but be considered a masterpiece now?
Pronunciation
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The Dutch pronunciation of Gogh is guttural and rhymes with the word "loch". In English, the name is pronounced Gō.
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