Chapter 1: The Concept of Time Travel

The notion of time travel was not conceived until five years after the passing of Vincent van Gogh. Notably, when H.G. Wells published The Time Machine in 1895, the terms "time machine" and "time travel" had yet to enter public discourse. These phrases gained traction only after Einstein introduced his theory of general relativity around 1905.

Before the revolutionary ideas of Wells and Einstein, characters in literature often found themselves in future worlds due to sleep or deception. For instance, in Rip Van Winkle, the protagonist awakens to discover he has wasted his life in slumber. Similarly, in the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, a king and his daughter experience the passage of generations while yearning for an ideal partner. These unintentional time travelers leap forward in time but are left without a means to return, raising questions about the purpose of such journeys.

Section 1.1: Van Gogh's Temporal Exploration

During the late 19th century, as authors and scientists contemplated the idea of transcendence, Van Gogh was metaphorically traversing a black hole, jumping through time akin to a time lord. His first notable journey occurred at 4 a.m. on June 19, 1889, when, according to astronomers, he began working on what would become his iconic masterpiece, The Starry Night.

Chapter 2: Cosmic Inspirations

The painting, inspired by the view from his window at an asylum in Southern France, features the Whirlpool Galaxy alongside a myriad of stars, including Cassiopeia, Capella, and Venus, which surround a striking cypress tree. The Whirlpool Galaxy, depicted in The Starry Night, could not have been observed with the naked eye, yet historians now believe Van Gogh was influenced by a scientific illustration of M51 that was prevalent at the time. This galaxy is located roughly 23 million light-years from Earth.

In the video titled "Vincent Van Gogh Visits the Gallery | Vincent and the Doctor | Doctor Who," viewers can explore the intersection of Van Gogh's art and the concept of time travel through the lens of popular culture.

The depiction of the Whirlpool Galaxy in Van Gogh's painting was made feasible by powerful telescopes first utilized by astronomer Charles Messier in 1773. While searching for comets, he discovered the distinctive spiral shape of the galaxy. Later, William Parsons illustrated it in a French astronomy text. The vast swirls of the Whirlpool Galaxy harbor a massive black hole at their center, a feature shared by the Milky Way and other galaxies.

The Whirlpool Galaxy is abundant with supernovas, which are brilliant explosions marking the end of a star's life. However, by the time we witness them, these celestial bodies have already perished, only to begin the process of stellar rebirth. Van Gogh captured the cycle of life and death of stars in his artwork just a year before his own untimely demise at the age of thirty-seven.

Another engaging exploration can be found in the video "Vincent Van Gogh Visits The Gallery | Vincent And Doctor | Doctor Who," which illustrates the imaginative journey of Van Gogh through time and space.

The theoretical framework suggests that when a star expires, it creates a white hole, which is essentially the inverse of a black hole. In 1935, Einstein and physicist Nathan Rosen proposed that these two phenomena could be linked by a bridge or shortcut through space-time. Although such Einstein-Rosen bridges, or wormholes, have yet to be confirmed outside of science fiction, some astrophysicists speculate that time travel could be feasible via these pathways.

Fifty-one years posthumously, in 1941, The Starry Night was acquired by the Museum of Modern Art, where it has since become its most celebrated masterpiece, attracting millions of visitors each year. Pre-pandemic, MoMA welcomed over three million guests annually.

The vibrant dynamics of the painting draw viewers back to a specific moment, creating an experience where time seemingly halts. Black holes, such as the one represented in Van Gogh's masterpiece, exert the strongest gravitational pull in the universe, causing time to decelerate dramatically within their confines.

Through the lens of an Einstein-Rosen wormhole, The Starry Night serves as its own gateway. Van Gogh transcends through his creation, and we, the audience, are invited to join him. By gazing upon this artwork, we are not only looking at Van Gogh but also engaging in a mutual crossing of time.

To witness The Starry Night in person is to feel the touch of history. As you observe the thick layers of paint, you are transported back to the moment they were applied, connecting with the artist’s hand and experiencing the canvas’s raw texture—this is the essence of meeting the past.

Art, however, is not solely a reflection of history. An artist's goal is to communicate and resonate with the present, akin to a time traveler like the Doctor, bridging different eras.

With the recent launch of virtual tours at MoMA, art enthusiasts can now experience The Starry Night from the comfort of their homes. Additionally, platforms like Google Arts and Culture allow for an intimate exploration of this iconic piece. Don't miss the chance to see how Van Gogh interacts with time in Vincent and the Doctor.