Factories Seen from a Hillside in Moonlight 1887

Vincent van Gogh painted Factories Seen from a Hillside in Moonlight, using oil on canvas. The most dominant symbol is the moon, an ethereal, ghostly orb, traditionally associated with the feminine principle, with intuition and the subconscious. In ancient times the moon goddess was revered, embodying cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. Yet here, it hangs over belching smokestacks, a jarring juxtaposition. We see the rise of industry encroaching on the natural, a tension that is at the heart of modernity. Consider Caspar David Friedrich's landscapes, where the moon often illuminates scenes of sublime natural beauty. Yet in Van Gogh's vision, the moon bears witness to the industrial expansion, a symbol of nature bearing witness to its own destruction. This connects to a subconscious unease about the direction of progress, a concern that resonates deeply within the collective psyche. The emotional weight of this painting lies in this unsettling contrast. The moon, an enduring symbol, cycles through art history, each time reflecting the anxieties and aspirations of the age.