One of the most recognized paintings in western art, "Starry Night" by van Gogh is generally regarded as the artist's magnum opus. The 1889 oil on canvas painting was inspired by a pre-dawn view from the east-facing window of van Gogh's asylum room at Saint-Remy-de-Provence. It was painted after van Gogh's breakdown, in which he mutilated his left ear, and during one of his most prolific artistic periods. The focus of van Gogh's night sky painting is the bright moon and the planet Venus. It also features Cypress trees and a quaint village. "Starry Night" by van Gogh is a classic version of Post-Impressionism as it features a real-life subject, vibrant colors, and the paint is applied thickly.