Final answer:
Vincent van Gogh's 'Starry Night' uses the swirling patterns of the sky and bright celestial bodies to create visual dominance over the submissive, darkened village below, achieved through his energetic brushwork and contrast between the elements of the painting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The composition of Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night superbly illustrates the concepts of dominance and submission within the elements of the painting. The sky, filled with dynamic swirling patterns, bright moon, and glowing stars, is undeniably the dominant feature. This contrasts with the submissive, tranquil village that lies in darkness beneath the powerful night sky.
Van Gogh's use of thick pigments and feverish short brush strokes enhances the intensity and drama of the dominant sky, which almost seems to pulse with energy, drawing the viewer's eye to the turmoil of the heavens above the passive and shadowy landscape below. The presence of the dark cypress trees serves as a bridge between the imposing heavens and the tamed, subdued village, adding to the balance of the composition.