Café Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night, painted in September 1888, is an iconic masterpiece that beautifully captures the artist’s fascination with nocturnal themes and his innovative use of color. Set in the Place du Forum in Arles, France, this work exemplifies Van Gogh’s talent for transforming ordinary scenes into extraordinary displays of emotion, color, and life. Although it remains unsigned, the painting’s authenticity is well-documented through Van Gogh’s letters to his family, where he vividly describes the scene and his experience working on it. Housed today at the Kröller-Müller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands, Café Terrace at Night has continued to captivate audiences and inspire various artistic and academic interpretations.

In this article, we’ll explore the creation, artistic context, and enduring legacy of Café Terrace at Night, uncovering the key themes that have made this painting such an important part of art history.

Genesis and Inspiration:

Van Gogh painted Café Terrace at Night during his time in Arles, a period marked by a heightened enthusiasm for painting nocturnal scenes or “nocturnes.” In a letter to his sister, Van Gogh described the work in progress:

“On the terrace, there are little figures of people drinking. A huge yellow lantern lights the terrace… I enormously enjoy painting on the spot at night.”

Van Gogh’s excitement for capturing the night comes through in his description. Although he doesn’t explicitly state his inspiration for the piece, scholars have suggested a variety of potential influences. One such influence is the depiction of Parisian nightlife under artificial lights in Guy de Maupassant’s novel Bel Ami, which may have informed Van Gogh’s approach to urban scenes lit by gas lamps. Another possible inspiration is Louis Anquetin’s Avenue de Clichy: 5 o’clock in the evening, which shares a similar perspective, vibrant blue-yellow color palette, and evening setting.

While these literary and artistic influences are intriguing, one academic theory suggests that Café Terrace at Night carries deeper, symbolic meaning. Some art historians believe the painting is a subtle representation of the Last Supper, connecting Van Gogh’s religious leanings to his artistic practice at the time. The painting’s composition, featuring a central figure surrounded by twelve others, evokes imagery reminiscent of Christ and his apostles. Furthermore, Van Gogh himself expressed a profound connection between art and spirituality, as he wrote in a letter:

“That doesn’t stop me having a terrible need for – dare I say the word – for religion. So I go outside at night to paint the stars and I always dream a painting like that with a group of living figures of the pals.”

This interpretation suggests that Van Gogh saw Café Terrace at Night as more than just a beautiful nighttime scene but as a reflection of his spiritual desires and his longing to create a community of artists who shared his vision.

Innovative Night Effects:

Van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night is notable not only for its subject matter but also for the artist’s pioneering approach to depicting nighttime scenes. Before this painting, nightscapes typically relied heavily on the use of black to capture the darkness of night. However, Van Gogh boldly abandoned this tradition, opting instead for a vibrant color palette dominated by blues, yellows, greens, and violets. He wrote enthusiastically about this decision:

“This is a night painting without black, with nothing but beautiful blue and violet and green, and in this surrounding, the illuminated area colors itself sulfur pale yellow and citron green.”

By forgoing black, Van Gogh imbued the painting with an otherworldly glow, creating an atmosphere that feels both vivid and dreamlike. This departure from convention allowed him to explore the interplay of artificial and natural light in a way that was revolutionary at the time. The stars above the café glow softly, marking this painting as the first instance of Van Gogh’s integration of a starry night sky, a motif that would reappear in some of his most famous works, such as Starry Night Over the Rhône and The Starry Night.

Van Gogh’s innovative use of light also mirrors his emotional state. The vibrant hues of the café and surrounding buildings, contrasted with the cool blues of the night, reflect the artist’s own intensity and passion for his work. The glowing café invites viewers into its warm atmosphere, creating a stark contrast with the surrounding quiet streets and darkened sky.

Lasting Impact:

The enduring legacy of Café Terrace at Night extends far beyond the canvas itself. The painting has permeated popular culture, featuring in various films such as Lust for Life (1956), Ronin (1998), Doctor Who (2010), and the groundbreaking animated film Loving Vincent (2017). These appearances have helped cement the painting’s place in the public imagination, reinforcing its status as one of Van Gogh’s most recognizable works.

Beyond its impact on film and popular culture, Café Terrace at Night has also left a lasting mark on the real world. The café depicted in the painting, now named “Le Café La Nuit,” remains a popular tourist destination in Arles, drawing visitors from around the globe who wish to experience the iconic setting firsthand. Remarkably, the café’s appearance has remained largely unchanged since Van Gogh captured it, allowing modern viewers to step into the scene and experience the night as the artist once did.

Important Facts:

To understand the significance of Café Terrace at Night, it’s essential to consider some key details about the painting:

• Title: Originally exhibited as Coffeehouse, in the evening (Café, le soir), it is now commonly referred to as Café Terrace at Night or The Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum.
• Date: The painting was completed in mid-September 1888.
• Location: The scene is set at the Place du Forum, a lively public square in Arles, France.
• Medium: Van Gogh used oil on canvas to bring this nocturnal vision to life.
• Dimensions: The painting measures 80.7 cm × 65.3 cm (31.8 in × 25.7 in).
• Signature: Although the painting is unsigned, its authenticity has been confirmed through Van Gogh’s letters, which provide detailed descriptions of the work.

Conclusion:

Vincent van Gogh’s Café Terrace at Night stands as a testament to the artist’s genius and his ability to transform everyday moments into profound, emotionally charged works of art. This painting encapsulates Van Gogh’s fascination with nocturnal scenes, his innovative use of color, and his ongoing exploration of light and atmosphere. From its inception in the streets of Arles to its continued prominence in both art history and popular culture, Café Terrace at Night remains a beloved masterpiece that invites viewers to see the world through Van Gogh’s eyes—where even the simplest of moments can glow with vibrancy and meaning.