Le café de nuit (The Night Café). Vincent van Gogh. Vincent Willem van Gogh 076.jpg (source). Public domain — PD-Art.
Le café de nuit (The Night Café)
Vincent van Gogh · 1888, September
- Catalog
- F463
- Date
- 1888, September
- Place painted
- Arles
- Museum
- Yale University Art Gallery
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
About the painting
Le café de nuit (The Night Café), painted in Arles, is one of Van Gogh's most famous and emotionally charged works. The scene depicts the interior of a late-night café, rendered with jarring colors—vivid yellows and reds, clashing with greens—and a distorted perspective that aims to express "the terrible human passions." The lone, somber figures scattered within the deserted space amplify the feeling of isolation and unease. Van Gogh deliberately used color not to describe, but to evoke emotion and the oppressive atmosphere he felt within the establishment. This painting is a powerful psychological study and a testament to his revolutionary use of color for expressive effect.
Collection: Yale University Art Gallery. Whether it is currently on view should be confirmed with the museum before visiting.
Research note: this entry is based on an evolving catalog. Dates, attribution, location and visitor information should be verified against the institution’s current records.