starry night: is it really worth the hype?

Last weekend, I finally got to see Van Gogh’s Starry Night in person at the museum. I’d seen it in books and online a thousand times, but standing there, surrounded by a crowd all craning their necks for a glimpse, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was really as magical as everyone says. The swirls were beautiful, sure, but I kept thinking about how much my feet hurt after waiting in line for almost an hour. I even overheard someone say, “It’s smaller than I expected!” and honestly, I agreed. I remember when I was younger, I’d stare at pictures of this painting and imagine it would be life-changing to see it up close. But now, after all the build-up, I’m not sure if it lived up to my expectations. Maybe I’m just too practical, or maybe I’ve seen too many reproductions for the real thing to surprise me. Has anyone else felt a little let down after finally seeing a famous artwork in person? Or is it just me getting grumpy in my old age? #artmuseums #vangogh #starrynight #Travel