By closely studying a high-definition digital photo of Starry Night, the team of physicists were able to analyze and measure specific brush strokes. They found that taken as a whole, with each brush stroke measured, the whirls in the painting generally aligned with Kolmogorov’s theory. That accuracy includes accounting for turbulence affecting the visibility of stars many light years away. 

In addition to the brush strokes, brightness plays a key role in the accuracy of Starry Night. The effect of turbulence on light diffusion is also fairly modern, but Vincent van Gogh’s painting seems to accurately display the natural phenomenon. When combined with the size and distancing of brush strokes, that light is compelling evidence that the painting is accurate to the modern understanding of turbulence.