The Night Café

"The Night Café" is an oil painting by Vincent van Gogh, created in September 1888 during his stay in Arles, France. Presently, this remarkable piece is part of Yale University's collection and is exhibited at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut. The painting captures the interior of the Café de la Gare, operated by Joseph-Michel Ginoux and his wife, Marie. Van Gogh animates this scene with vivid colors and thick layers of paint, portraying a room populated with what he referred to as "drunks and derelicts." The chosen perspective immerses viewers in the room, evoking a sense of despair and seediness.

Van Gogh employed color and texture masterfully to depict the café as a place of ruin and darkness. Critics regard "The Night Café" as one of his masterpieces, praising its emotional depth and departure from traditional Impressionist styles. The painting's impasto technique and vibrant colors give it a unique and impactful presence.

Interestingly, Paul Gauguin, another renowned artist, also painted the same café in Arles, providing his own interpretation of the scene. The narrative behind "The Night Café" includes Van Gogh using the painting to settle debts with Ginoux, the café owner. The painting was once part of the Ivan Morozov collection in Moscow before finding its way to Yale University after a series of legal disputes.

The ownership of "The Night Café" was contested by Pierre Konowaloff, who claimed to be the great-grandson of Morozov. However, the United States Supreme Court ultimately affirmed Yale's ownership, ensuring that the painting remains in the university's esteemed collection.