Golden Christmas Eve

About this work

Swirls of navy and gold fill the upper part of the picture, rolling across the sky in thick, raised bands around stars and a gold moon. Below, the village lies under snow, its rooftops white, with warm lit windows and a small church among the houses. The contrast between the moving sky and the still village is the heart of the image: one half restless, the other asleep. Gold ties them together, appearing in the stars above and in the window lights below. From across a room the swirls read clearly as a bold pattern of blue and gold; close to, the ridges of gold leaf and the tiny lit windows show up. The mood is hushed, cold outside and warm within.

Van Gogh painted The Starry Night in June 1889 at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, from the view of his window, adding a village with a church spire from memory and imagination. Golden Christmas Eve is a reimagining of that picture for winter, not a copy. It links his night sky with old Christmas customs: a candle in the window to welcome travellers, the walk through snow to a late service, the star that leads the way in the nativity story. Gold has long belonged to the season, from the gifts of the Magi to candlelight on dark evenings.

Above a piano, in a hallway or in a living room, it feels festive while still reading as a picture first, and it can stay on the wall until late January. Soft grey, white or navy walls suit it. A slim black frame emphasises the night sky; a warm gold frame picks up the stars and suits a more traditional room. Low, warm lamplight brings out the glow in the windows. A large print suits the wall over a sofa; a small one fits a narrow hall. With Snow Lanterns and The Golden Reindeer it makes up the Winter Night in Gold set. The file prints sharply to roughly 76 cm on the long edge at 300 dpi.