Café Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh – Art Print

Café Terrace at Night: Vincent van Gogh’s colourful night scene

This art print of Café Terrace at Night by Vincent van Gogh shows a terrace glowing yellow beneath a blue, starry sky. Round tables, chairs and passers-by animate the foreground. Further back, the street narrows between the façades and draws the eye towards a dark area. The painting brings an everyday scene together with a striking contrast of colours.

A scene painted in Arles in September 1888

The Kröller-Müller Museum dates this oil painting on canvas to around 16 September 1888. It explains that Van Gogh painted the gas-lit terrace of a café in Arles on location at night. The artist explored a nocturnal scene through luminous colours rather than a simple range of greys.

To compare this subject with other moments in his painting, discover our Vincent van Gogh art print collection. The works offer different ways of arranging landscapes, figures and colours.

From the paving stones to the starry sky

The edge of the terrace and the rows of tables create diagonal lines. They give the scene depth and invite the eye to travel along the street. The small brushstrokes of the paving contrast with the broad yellow areas of the awning and façade.

Above, the bright points of the stars occupy an open blue space. The close proximity of yellow and blue strengthens the distinction between terrace and sky. The figures remain small: they bring the setting to life without distracting from the overall arrangement.

A café scene for your interior

In a dining room, living room or reading corner, the vertical composition can occupy a stretch of wall between two openings. A simple frame allows the colours to take the lead. Consider your viewing distance so that the tables and figures remain easy to distinguish.

To create a group around Van Gogh’s night scenes, compare this work with our art print of Starry Night Over the Rhône and our reproduction of The Starry Night. Our article Van Gogh’s life in fifteen paintings offers a broader context. Available sizes and materials are listed in the options on each product page.