Ekphrastic Writing Responses: Vincent Van Gogh

2/25/2022

Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh (Netherlands) 1889

Editor’s Note

The torrent of entries for Starry Night took me off guard. I was expecting there would be many more than usual, because Van Gogh is an evergreen ekphrastic inspiration, and because what poet or writer isn’t moved by his exquisite work and life? But I wasn’t prepared, even so. Although I selected almost fifty entries, I left more out in the cold than ever. At least ten of you sent multiple pieces this time, with one person sending eleven poems on this painting!

Choosing which works to publish for any aspect of this journal is the hardest part. I find it so difficult that I publish extravagantly, every day, and two special editions a month. This means we publish well over a thousand poems and stories every year, a time-consuming habit, but one with so many rewards. And yet that is probably not even five percent of the ekphrases we receive. Art moves us, it helps us find the words.

Thank you to every one. To those whose works appear here, and to those who don’t. This is a very special community, a worldwide circle writing about art and sharing the riches with each other.

This is the first time we have made an ebook from the challenge responses. This is an experiment, to see how the format works, as well as a way for you to invite the world to our writers.

Please share this ebook freely. It is free, but extremely valuable. Please share it with every reader you know, and anyone who loves art. This booklet is an invitation from all of us into the world of The Ekphrastic Review. Invite more readers to us, so they can read these writers, and all of our writers, those in our archives, and those ahead. Thank you.

love, Lorette