Why is this artwork by van Gogh black and white instead of colorful?

Question

• Van Gogh was in prison and didn't have access to colored media.
• Van Gogh felt that black and white was the best way to communicate the message of the artwork.
• It is a sketch he created to plan for his painting The Starry Night.
• Van Gogh created it to make a series of works in various media.

Answer 1

The most accurate explanation for why a specific artwork by van Gogh might be in black and white, such as sketches or studies, is: It is a sketch he created to plan for his painting The Starry Night.

Van Gogh often created sketches in black and white to develop his ideas and compositions before executing them in color. This method allowed him to focus on the structure, form, and overall composition without the distraction of color.