You must see it:

Physics, abstract

physics/0606246

From: Jose-Luis Aragon [view email]Date: Wed, 28 Jun 2006 14:10:58 GMT   (167kb)

Kolmogorov scaling in impassioned van Gogh paintings

Authors:
J.L. Aragón,
Gerardo G. Naumis,
M. Bai,
M. Torres,
P.K. Maini
Comments: 3 pages, 6 figures
Subj-class: Fluid Dynamics

We show that some impassioned van Gogh paintings display scaling properties similar to the observed in turbulent fluids, suggesting that these paintings reflect the fingerprint of turbulence with such a realism that is even consistent with the way that a mathematical model characterizes this phenomenon. Specifically, we show that the probability distribution function (PDF) of luminance fluctuations of points (pixels) separated by a distance R is consistent with the Kolmogorov scaling theory in turbulent fluids. We also show that the most turbulent paintings of van Gogh coincide with periods of prolonged psychotic agitation of this artist.The conjunction is like this: if you see eddies in this beautiful picture from NASA

Then you may start thinking about all kind of PDF analysis of everything (e.g. R) and find out maybe that van Gogh’s paintings, e.g. The Starry Night is also “turbulent” in Kolmogorov (see the previous post) sense, isn’t it nice?

http://www.moma.org/collection/printable_view.php?object_id=79802

Still turbulent:

Road with Cypress and Star
1890
Oil on canvas
36 1/4 x 28 3/4 in. (92 x 73 cm)
Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Otterlo

Less turbulent:

Wheat Field with Crows
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheat_Field_with_Crows

Not turbulent, the guy went wrong 😦

Self-Portrait with Pipe

Oil on canvas
46.0 x 38.0 cm.
Paris: Spring, 1886
F 180, JH 1194

Amsterdam: Van Gogh Museum