Café Terrace at Night is a striking post-impressionist cityscape genre painting by Vincent van Gogh. Painted in Arles, France in 1888, it is part of a series of masterful paintings featuring starlit skies. The painting depicts a bustling sidewalk café in France at night and is renowned for its vibrant colors and unique style.
One of the most recognizable paintings by Van Gogh, Café Terrace at Night features the double illumination and contrast of the café and starry sky through jagged forms. The silhouette of the night sky serves to pattern the whole painting. The painting’s color palette has an abundance of bright yellows that add warmth to this nocturnal scene.
Some analyses suggest that Café Terrace should be considered a Symbolist Last Supper since Van Gogh intended to create a nocturnal image rich with vibrant colors to portray conviviality. This idea complements the notion that this work depicts people enjoying time together over drinks and conversation.
