At a Glance
- Some researchers have suggested that the swirling patterns in Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night resemble turbulent fluid flows, linking the painting to Kolmogorov turbulence theory from fluid dynamics.
- A paper published in Physics of Fluids argued that van Gogh’s brushstrokes captured turbulent swirls’ size, distance, and intensity, suggesting that the artist may have unconsciously recreated fluid motion properties.
- Engineers Mohamed Gad-el-Hak and James J. Riley criticized the theory, stating that Kolmogorov’s fluid dynamics theory cannot be applied to a painting lacking measurable fluid properties like temperature or pressure.
- Gad-el-Hak and Riley argued that the swirling patterns in The Starry Night are artistic, not representative of actual turbulence, emphasizing that the painting does not meet the conditions necessary for the theory to apply.
- Despite the scientific debate, both critics agree that van Gogh’s work remains iconic for its abstract beauty and emotional depth. It highlights the intersection of art and science and the careful application of scientific theories.
In a recent scientific debate, researchers have questioned whether Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting The Starry Night holds clues to fluid dynamics, as some scientists have suggested. The painting, created in 1889 while van Gogh was in a mental asylum in France, is known for its swirling depiction of the night sky. Some researchers claimed that the swirls in the painting resembled turbulent fluid flows, based on a well-known theory in fluid dynamics. This theory, called Kolmogorov turbulence theory, explains the chaotic patterns seen in fluids like air and water.
The paper, published in Physics of Fluids, argued that van Gogh’s brushstrokes accurately captured the characteristics of turbulent swirls, like their size, distance, and intensity. The authors suggested that the artist might have unconsciously recreated the properties of fluid motion in the sky. However, two engineers, Mohamed Gad-el-Hak from Virginia Commonwealth University and James J. Riley from the University of Washington, have strongly criticized this theory.
Gad-el-Hak and Riley argue that the claims in the Physics of Fluids paper are incorrect. They explain that Kolmogorov’s theory, which applies to fluid flows, cannot be applied to a painting without measurable fluid properties, like temperature or pressure. They also state that the painting does not meet the necessary conditions for the theory to work. According to their analysis, the swirling patterns in The Starry Night may be artistic, but they do not reflect the actual physics of turbulence.
While the debate may spark curiosity about the intersection of art and science, Gad-el-Hak and Riley agree that van Gogh’s work remains iconic. Its abstract beauty and emotional depth, they note, are what make it a masterpiece, not a scientific model of fluid dynamics. This disagreement shows how art can inspire scientific exploration and how important it is to apply scientific theories carefully and correctly.
Further details about this response can be found in a paper published in the Journal of Turbulence.
References
- Ugincius, L. & Virginia Commonwealth University. (2025, April 1). Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ is not a masterpiece when it comes to flow physics, researchers say. Phys.Org; Virginia Commonwealth University. https://phys.org/news/2025-04-vincent-van-gogh-starry-night.html
- Ma, Y., Cheng, W., Huang, S., Schmitt, F. G., Lin, X., & Huang, Y. (2024). Hidden turbulence in van Gogh’s The Starry Night. Physics of Fluids, 36(9), 095140. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0213627
- Riley, J. J., & Gad-el-Hak, M. (2025). Is there hidden turbulence in Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night ? Journal of Turbulence, 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1080/14685248.2025.2477244
