Over his time at the asylum in Saint-Rémy, Van Gogh’s breakdowns increased in severity. He became increasingly violent towards others as well as himself, swallowing poisonous paints and self-mutilating. Hallucinations and disturbing dreams, often of a religious nature and possibly brought on by the religious overtones of the asylum, exacerbated his suffering.
The view from the asylum over the township of Saint-Rémy is depicted in The Starry Night. The foreground cypress dominates the magical night sky with its swirling clouds and yellow crescent moon and stars, while the small steeple in the background gives the scene depth.
The intensely emotional fluid brushstrokes and rolling sky reveal a deeply troubled mind, yet do not convey despair.