Longing and Art, the Saga in Old School TV

When thinking of art and longing, I immediately draw back to my childhood days when I waited anxiously to watch Boy Meets World and see what new challenge would unfold in relationship of Corey and Topanga.
In one episode, their relationship struggles revolved around this painting, a popular one by van Gogh. "Starry Night" is generally a picture of comfort, a portrait of beauty as many critics note.
Topanga went on a date with another boy and they both stared at this painting for hours, and in the painting she seemed to see the comfort and safety that she seemed to be lacking in her relationship with Corey. The boy she was on a date with agreed only because his longing was for her. Later, Topanga was seeking reassurance and brought Corey before this painting. He looked hard into the painting for a moment and he saw a battle. He saw God striking down the people in the poor town, and they didn't know what was coming to get them late in the night. His longing seemed to be one of a catharsis. He was seeking a purging of emotion so he and Topanga could resolve their issues and be reunited as the storybook couple that was always their lives.
This silly display is one to show that the comcept that is longing varies greatly from each individual, and we as humans are always looking for something we can take ourselfes. It is almost like self-confirmation bias. Our mood is going to influence what we receive from admiring the painting. Each perspective will be different, even if only a little bit, and each will create the longing as felt inside each individual.