The “Ugly” Van Gogh Painting

This piece is called The Night Café by Vincent van Gogh. Is it beautiful? I wouldn’t say so. Charming? probably not. Striking? I think you could say that. Nevertheless, it’s now considered one of Vincent van Gogh’s greatest masterpieces. Van Gogh on the other hand, hated this painting and called it “one of the ugliest pictures I have done”. But why would Van Gogh talk about his own painting in such a negative way?
It’s no secret that van Gogh lived a troubled life. He also hated the nightlife scene, which is one of the reasons he left Paris. Maybe in creating this painting, he was warning others just as much as he was reminding himself.
#vangogh #art #arthistory #classicart #fineart
Cloud special effect from Vecteezy

[@Art_Deco]

Here’s the link to The Van Gogh Coloring Book: amzn.to/3R65V4I (ad) I handmade this book by digitally sketching my favorite Van Gogh pieces. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed creating it! Whether you purchase my book or not, thank you so much for supporting my channel and making my dreams come true. I am so grateful for every one of you! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[@simaturna9765]

👏👏👏

[@Barnaclebeard]

I love your channel and hate that "The Van Gogh Coloring Book" exists.

[@JClover2]

@@Barnaclebeard why do you hate it?

[@abraxasjinx5207]

This is a really cool idea, and you could do it with so many artists! It's a shame you can't see any images from inside in the Amazon posting.

[@kara.drawss126]

Waittt- I think I had a similar thing like 7 yrs ago wth

[@Objective-Observer]

I can easily see why the artist hated this painting: it was his mirror, though he didn't realize it. That was a metaphorical depiction of his life, and his vices. Great contrast of such potential, yet not enough production. Having such hope, that evaproates with booze. In the day light, this could be a quaint little cafe, but after midnight, it's a place of despair.

[@jebidiahnewkedkracker1801]

You must be pretty young or just not a drinker, because given what I have observed about "quaint little bars or cafes" that serve beverages "stronger than espresso", they frequently tend to be much more depressing in the DAY than at night.(At least the ones I have seen....And drank at ). Also, if ol' Vincent is STARTING to drink at 12 noon, and STILL drinking at 12 MIDNIGHT, then yeah.....He is probably going to come up with such paintings! But obviously he had A LOT of brain cells to sacrifice, because if I drank like HE probably did, I probably would not be able to merely hold a paintbrush...Or hold MYSELF up!😅😶)

[@Objective-Observer]

@@jebidiahnewkedkracker1801 I have no doubts I'm older than you, but I also know history; and I understand addiction and what booze will do to the body. You cannot super impose modern realities onto the past. Sure, that little dive bar today would be more lively at night, but not after 12pm. Most cities put a curfew on bars around midnight. The clock is critical to defining the mood in this painting: the only people left are the dregs of society... people who truly have nowhere to go...you know- the homeless of the day- a very depressing sight. By this time, all financially secure people would be in a home; not necessarily in bed, but in a home drinking and eating until almost dawn; providing they are above the working class. Again, the working class would be preparing for bed, by this time. All the happy financially sound people won't be in that establishment until the bright hours of lunch the next day. This is not a wealthy establishement, so the owner won't see wealthy people who have no jobs to get to, so they have no bedtime. The only folks he will see are the average wage passer bys, and/or the locals- who have jobs. I've seen numerous documentaries on Van Gogh and the man stayed on a upper level buzzed, if not out right drunk. He drank from the time he woke up until he passed out. When the human body lives like that day in day out, it begins to acclimate. At that point, the artist cannot produce while sober; they can't think straight sober; they don't have their genius, while sober. Yet, the alcohol still drepresses higher brain functions, and eye/hand coordination, so their genius still looks like a drunk produced it. I have no doubts, most of this painting was done on a upper level drunk. However Absynthe of the day was loaded with toxins, to the point most countries banned it's production until the late 20th century, when the toxins could be removed. Van Gogh wasn't merely drunk, he was also poisoning his body. He drank more than he ate food, and the poisons affected the brain; which affected his mental stability, as well.

[@jebidiahnewkedkracker1801]

@@Objective-Observer Thank you for the comment. Duly noted.

[@misscyberia]

🤯🤯🤯 well said

[@Laocoon283]

Also its ugly af

[@Meli_monster]

Yay finally van gogh! I know it's so cliché to say and common. But van gogh really is my favorite artist. His paints and artwork are just so beautiful to me.

[@Nonamebrand168]

I feel ya, me too.

[@littlechildinbigworld]

just because the artist gets a lot of appreciation and recognition doesn't detract from uniqueness and quality of their work! no shame in having a good taste^^

[@drueeeee]

same 🥰🥰 my favorite artist even if it’s “basic” … he is iconic for a reason!!

[@feanorian21maglor38]

He was a genius.

[@Laocoon283]

I fuking hate impressionist paintings lol. They are just not appealing to look at. I don't understand it at all. It's like looking at a low resolution photo and being like yup that's fuking beautiful lol. What's appealing about it to you?

[@harrietlyall1991]

Novelist Malcolm Bradbury, in his 1960s campus novel “Eating People Is Wrong”, wrote of Van Gogh that, so far from being insane, he was in fact “afflicted with sanity of the most painful kind”. Depressed, yes, a heavy drinker, yes, but always structured, articulate and insightful. The hallmarks of madness include chaotic thinking and the inability to engage with external reality, whereas Van Gogh, in painting after painting, turns chaos into order and pain into great art, which is why we love him so.

[@AndySalinger33]

Masterfully stated. Excellent way to put it. 🕊

[@ErikJohanssen-px7gg]

Reminds me of Pratchett's theory of drunkness. See, every person produces a small amount of alcohol internally. We are ever so slightly drunk all the time. This is necessary to be able to deal with everyday life. You can get completely sober by drinking the really strong Klatchian coffee, and see the world for how it really is. Never, NEVER do this.

[@jeffjones6951]

@@ErikJohanssen-px7gg Kinda "red pill/blue pill" stuff

[@sabrinatscha2554]

@Erik Johanssen “You can get completely sober by drinking the really strong Klatchian coffee, and see the world for how it really is” The same effects can be achieved through moderate to sever vitamin B deficiency.

[@Papin47]

So On Point!👆

[@thefirm4606]

He was incredibly lucky that he had Theo in his life. Theo recognised and supported his brothers genius.

[@lynnhubbard844]

def overpowering with his mental health issues, too

[@realityjunky]

I find it VERY interesting to compare the night skies in these paintings, knowing that they were viewed without the light pollution we have today. Can we imagine what it must have been like to just step outside and see the constellations so easily?

[@debranchelowtone]

I experienced this near my home earlier this year, i was coming back at night and for some reason street ligths were off. At some point i looked at the sky and it was quite surreal to be able to see it like it should naturally be. It was not the usual dark sky with a few stars, there was the milky way up there ! Mindblowing experience.

[@thegoodplebian4769]

if you don't live in a city it's pretty easy

[@cosmicabyss7358]

I always see the stars my city is located in what is known as a blue hole where the ozone layer is thinner so we have some amazingly clear night skys.

[@realityjunky]

@@thegoodplebian4769 Someday, I'd like to take an ocean voyage and really get away from light pollution. Maybe Antarctica...

[@realityjunky]

@@cosmicabyss7358 That must be fantastic!!

[@LostK05]

Woah, Van Gogh really is someone who expressed himself with his works. Although he was quite a peculiar individual, we can all agree that art in any form is always the chosen method of expressing oneself by people that don't know how to relate to others, and/or feel out of place in the mundane life of 'normal' people (◍•ᴗ•◍)✧*。

[@midnightchannel111]

He felt out of place with the 'common man', e.g., these townspeople who feared him because he dressed differently, hated him because he had a Dutch accent, bullied him because he was not 'one of them' and ONLY because he was not one of them. Interviews with the bully brother whom we now know killed Van Gogh prove this, as does the ample testimony of the 'common man' of that village whonwere still alive when "Lust for Life" was filmed... People with little education, little appreciation of beauty, and those first reaction to someone different was to fear, aka, hate...

[@alphagt62]

@@midnightchannel111 I’m sure someone who made a living as a painter did seem very odd to people who lived in a tiny town out of the way. Reminds me of the Doors song, “People are strange”. I think that’s the title? I was thinking the lack of windows would indicate this was a basement. And the elevated point of view was entering from the top of stairs. When you first enter from the dark outside, lights would seem blurry and colors muted.

[@meganlumley3719]

As a child I could never understand how the same artist that created the luminous dark of Starry Starry Night or the brooding beauty of a vase of dying sunflowers could paint a piece as ugly and stark as this one and the Potato Eaters. It never occurred to me that anything other than beauty could be worthy subject matter. I wish that my younger self could have benefited from your commentary. Instead, my adult self is the one to learn from your insights. Just as good. Thank you 😊

[@coyoteartist]

The Potato Eaters and Starry Starry Night are my to favorite Van Goghs. As a child, on seeing them both in a book, I thought they made the most wonderful story together. I imagined this family sharing in the work of the day under the blanket of stars. I guess for some reason it made me think of the lyrics of It's A Wonderful World. "The bright blessed day The dark sacred night".

[@Anthony-hu3rj]

I have to say beauty is a concept just as ugliness is.

[@leonardodalongisland]

Hello Megan, apparently you were a smart/educated/exposed child-to even have such thoughts-or even to have seen such works. I envy your childhood. I had no such “exposure” as a child. My only recollection of art as a kid was seeing (and “falling in love with) Rousseau’s jungle paintings. They were the most amazing thing I’d (literally) ever seen. But now as a (sort of) grown man/artist whose seen thousands of works of Art (and made his own “countless” art) I have to say, I have never considered this or the Potato Eaters as “ugly.” I think Potato Eaters is one of the most moving and powerful pieces I’ve ever seen/ever created. It moved me the very instant I first saw it. I also think it’s perhaps, the “saddest” art ever created. But! At the same time it’s also (perhaps) the “Truest” art ever made-alongside Dorothea Lang’s Migrant Mother. So, does the grown woman still consider those works “ugly” or was that just the little girl in you? BTW, I m (red/green) colorblind ergo I see this 9and everything) differently than you/most of the world :)

[@meganlumley3719]

@@leonardodalongisland Just the little girl in me, thankfully! I didn't have any art exposure as a child at home, but I loved flipping through art encyclopedias at the library. Rousseau was also magical to me then (and still is!) and Escher and the surrealists made me want to be an artist. I now see the Potato Eaters as the deepest type of beauty ( if I can reclaim that abused word, Beauty) because it is true and raw and closer to the lived experience of most of the humans that have walked on this earth than the glossy contrived depictions of mythical characters so often depicted in art (though truth be told, I love those stylized pieces as well! ). I'm just glad now that there is no limit on art or Beauty and that many many pieces have a story to tell. I'm glad to live in a world of Muchness. Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@meganlumley3719 Thanks for your thoughtful reply.. I'm also a huge Escher fan. Btw, is Hammer related to Escher ? :)

[@Z.O.1991]

I truly am obsessed with his "Starry Night" piece. I have it as a blanket, license plate, steering wheel, and a few clothing pieces.

[@Laocoon283]

I dont understand the appeal of impressionist painting. It just makes look like a low resolution photo. It's not pleasant to look at all.

[@misspeach3755]

@@Laocoon283 That's when you look at them from too close. These paintings catch moments that convey the overall impression and atmosphere rather than details. (I do agree though that not all painters were good enough to not make this style look like a child's work in some cases.) The last art exhibition I went to in summer was an impressionist collection. It was beautiful, and - what's esp. appealing - it's easy to take the paintings in without it taking hours of looking.

[@Laocoon283]

@@misspeach3755 of that's interesting maybe instead of focusing on specifics parts too closely I just need to look at as a whole?

[@cosmicabyss7358]

@@Laocoon283 What are you even talking about when are paintings high resolution?

[@Laocoon283]

@@cosmicabyss7358 Not literally. I just mean the impressionist stuff has this blurry kind of look that I describe as "low resolution".

[@jg9301]

Hearing you say Cafe Terrace at Night is one of the most beautiful paintings of all time fills me with glee! It's my favorite Van Gogh painting and my wallpaper ❤

[@KitsuyuutsuR]

My favorite artist! 😊 When I was in high school, we had to do a painting in the style of an artist of our choosing. I stupidly chose Van Gogh because he’s my favorite. Let me tell you, the man was a crazy genius! I was having so much difficulty until my teacher pointed out that he rarely blended his colors. I ended up painting most of my painting with a palette knife, dipping it in several different colors and just slapping it on the canvas. It was quite the experience! That being said, you can see that in this painting as well. A lot of his colors aren’t mixed or are just haphazardly blorped onto the canvas. I’ve also noticed he had a habit of doing exactly what he did in this painting in a few others as well. His perspective is a bit skewed, as if he was drunk as a skunk when he painted them. This one in particular is the best example of that, I think. And I definitely agree that the colors make you feel unsettled. They’re too vibrant, too clashing, what they used to call nightmare colors. The people all look as if they’re in misery except for that creepy guy in white that’s staring at us. And those eyeball lamps… It gives one the feeling that you’re looking at purgatory’s waiting room… However, one thing I do love about his paintings that I incorporate in my own is that use of thick paint. It gives the painting depth, especially if you’re allowed to run your hand over it. So not only can you see the beautiful texture, you can feel it as well. He was way ahead of his time. And it’s usually the mentally ill ones who have the most genius. 😊

[@janeaparis]

I think the painting is very successful, as it portrays exactly what he wanted to portray. The misery of a seedy little bar with drunkards full of hopelessness and the glare of the bright lights on this garish fact. The conflicting colors make one's stomach turn. He did a good job, and that is why he did not like it. Because misery and garishness are what he painted, and to him that was ugly. It is good and ugly in my opinion, and that makes it interesting and successful as it portrays exactly what it is supposed to portray. The reality and garishness of life sometimes. The red edges on me a little, and the lights send me over the edge. I like the reality and stark and ugly contrasts of the painting.

[@leonardodalongisland]

I love this and every one of VV's works. As for “The conflicting colors make one's stomach turn.” I find this to be such a bizarre and incomprehensible statement; you see I “suffer” from (red/green) colorblindness, ergo I see this (and everything) differently than you/most of the world :) The colors have little to no affect/effect on me. And, being aware of this, I have to remind myself when making my own art that people will see it differently (and usually-“better”) than how I see it. I’m always surprised (and relieved) when their comments are positive and even more “insightful” then my own into my own art BTW: a little known fact; Michelangelo had the same colorblindness.

[@janeaparis]

@@leonardodalongisland I have to admit I love everything I have ever seen by Van Gogh. Even his bad stuff was good, if you know what I mean. It is amazing that someone could be so talented and yet have such a sad life. He is one of my favorite painters, if not my favorite.

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@janeaparis He's my favorite-too. As far as having …”someone could be so talented and yet have such a sad life.” I (highly) recommended Creativity and Madness by Barry Panter. It exploers the lives of many artist, writers, etc and their “sad lives.” This “affliction” seems to be a constant in the lives of talent people. Not that I’m anywhere in the league of these people, but (they say) I’m a pretty talented artist/writer and I can assure you-I have a (terribly) sad life. Many artists I know suffer (from many maladies and other issues) as it seems creativity and madness (as the book says) go hand-in-hand. It’s lousy but (apparently) if they/we were happy and sane, most of the great art we know wouldn’t exist. I don’t know if my work will ever be worthy of gaining a spot in the next edition of C&M, but I know my life sure would 

[@janeaparis]

@@leonardodalongisland It is nice to meet you. I will check that out, when I have time. I have a strange life too. I have done some painting, but then I got sicker, and now it hurts to be creative (it is hard to be physical and I am mad about that), so instead I just study. I am actually excited about my next class, because it deals with trauma, and that is something I experience a lot. I am going to check your suggestion out, and I hope things get better for you. :)

[@leonardodalongisland]

@@janeaparis Nice to meet you as well. May I enquire as to what “Pains” you? And, would love to know more about/see your paintings. Good luck with the class-where do you take them?

[@gatewoodanimations9753]

Have you ever seen Loving Vincent? A movie animated in oil paint in his art style. It’s a visual masterpiece

[@vegzet2066]

If you like these type of movies, "The tragedy of Man" from 2011 is a movie for you (or by itself Marcell Jankovics works-)

[@Rj3k244]

Someone needs to write a book series, but each book is a character in a Van Gogh painting and their story, like how they ended up at that scene. Creating a character in each painting and setting the scene in that painting. E.g. this painting would be a book about a girl who lives in this city and works at the cafe everyday, then she meets Van Gogh who is painting this painting. Idk i think it would be cool 😅

[@mfranssens]

You should write it. The idea is sound and you seem to have the spark to carry it through.

[@spitfire_2]

Yes! Great idea!

[@stacyp1001]

That would be amazing!

[@Laocoon283]

The only trouble would be making them all into a coherent story. That's a fun idea tho.

[@Blissblizzard]

Most of his last portraits were local people in the Village so we know who they are.

[@micheleparker3780]

I love these so much I can't get enough of them - DO MORE!!!🥰

[@jennyB_In_KC]

You took the words right outta my mouth!! I just adore these!

[@rebeccamay3076]

Please please

[@susanfarley1332]

When I saw his paintings in Amsterdam I was so amazed by how many colors were in each of his brush strokes. No matter how much they have been reproduced, when you see the real paintings they are so much more beautiful than the prints.

[@sailorv8067]

So true!

[@bjones2600]

I don't know when it happened but somewhere along the way I started actively checking for your uploads. I'm not an artsy person really. I really don't know anything about classical arts but these videos are so informative and straight forward I don't feel too out of my element watching them. Sometimes I'm even the Leonardo DiCaprio meme pointing at the screen when I recognize a painting, lol! So, thanks for these videos. They're really awesome, they make me feel smart and cultured, and I really look forward to them even if I'm probably not the target audience. :)

[@ellenpayson3104]

There is a song by The Doors called “People Are Strange.” This heart-rending painting by Van Gogh has always come to mind when I hear that song. I felt that this genius of a creator, isolated and tormented by so many things both natural and self-inflicted (including his loneliness) in-dwelt this song in some way. The painting silently screeches the glaring absence of hope and love and relationship. No wonder he hated it. It was a too harsh mirror. Beginning lyrics: People are strange When you're a stranger Faces look ugly When you're alone

[@0f128]

That makes sense I was going to say the art he hated looks like he was painting while drunk.

[@rishidev7259]

Thats the point of this art

[@brucejohnson7944]

Love your videos. I hadn't noticed the Cyclops eyes until you mentioned it, and once you have seen them you can't un-see them.

[@spitfire_2]

Interestingly, those “eyes” are the first things I noticed.

[@pchinnIII]

Never noticed the eyes either. When I saw the The Van Gogh exhibition in the 70's in San Francisco I felt like this was the greatest "Artist" that had ever lived and I still feel the same way today.

[@panqueque445]

"Man I really wanna move to Japan. Well, guess the south of France will have to do."

[@simaturna9765]

I appreciate your channel Thank you for sharing your knowledge in art history ,you bring out different perspectives ;inspiring and useful

[@Art_Deco]

Thank you so much!

[@simaturna9765]

@@Art_Deco 👏👏👏

[@Meli_monster]

Im trying to get my teacher to play these videos in class. Cause many of classmates aren't art majors. They just needed to take a history class. And I think art deco videos are just so informative but in a easy, and fun way. And I think it's important to look at art, it really is a peek into the world back then and the view of a historical figure. It's just great

[@Evgesha1990]

Yeah, there are really interesting and educational videos on this channel

[@asiahthomas-mandlman2280]

This is my favorite channel. Thank you for taking the time to create these! Please, please, please do Pontormo's, The Desposition one day💕

[@Art_Deco]

Thank you so much for supporting the channel! It makes me so happy to know it's your favorite!! I will definitely look into that painting for a future video 🖼😊

[@philiptownsend4026]

The bar in the first painting still looks much like that today, it is still there and recognisable if you know the painting. The hospital garden at Arles is still there too and recognisable. I made a pilgrimage to Arles among many others of Vincent's painting locations. It. Is still possible to relate to many of them. PS It also made and excellent theme for a lovely holiday in beautiful SW France and the unique Camargue.

[@reginafeher8130]

When I look at this painting, I feel like I am quite drunk: the place is wobbling around me, and I cannot judge the distance correctly. Great video, thank you!

[@kompetenzpartner]

I love your videos! And I would love to see videos on the paintings you use for reactions. I am doing a moodboard =)

[@Story-Voracious66]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet, but Absinthe was not simply a strong alcohol. Absinthe was distilled with alcohol and Wormwood, a bitter narcotic plant. I believe that the perspective of the painting may have something to do with that fact. People who drank Absinthe, dropped slowly through a lump of sugar, sat inside a pierced teaspoon, into a glass of water below, were considered mad, bad and dangerous to know. Thanks for your work, it's nice to have a platform to learn about, and discuss artworks. Well done.

[@SeiichirouUta]

Thank you. I was hoping someone else wanted to inform other people about what Absinthe was back then and why it was so problematic.

[@Story-Voracious66]

@SeiichirouUta I'm so glad that I'm not the only one who knows or cares. I've drunk modern Absinthe, but I'm absolutely sure it's *nothing* like the original! 😵

[@jeffjones6951]

@@Story-Voracious66 "Narcotics" (an oft misused term) are drugs that put you to sleep. Think of the god Narcos. Absinthe, on the other hand, has hallucinogenic qualities, so is somewhat psychedelic. Just sayin'

[@TheLadyBandit]

You made me appreciate my least favorite Van Gogh piece with a new perspective! Thank you!

[@deathshead357]

The man in white was the owner of the cafe. Vincent had frequented the cafe and stayed o often that he told the man he would do a painting for him. Sadly, the sameman in white was one of the many townspeople who later signed a petition to have Vincent evicted from the yellow house in which he was staying. I actually really like this painting and have it a a large canvas hanging in my living room. Bt the way, did you notice that the man in white has no feet?

[@giftedsmith1511]

That's because the billiard table is covering them

[@christopherscottcarpenter]

I’m a simple man. I see Art Deco post a video, I watch the video.

[@Art_Deco]

I'm a simple woman. I see Christopher post an amazing comment, I reply and say thanks.

[@Gubalicious]

The night cafe was always my favourite Van Gogh. I first saw it just after I'd been to Amsterdam and I'd been in little bars and cafes that felt just like it. The cafe terrace at night while beautiful is like something you'd see on a wall in a hotel room whereas the night cafe is a painting that is looking at you and saying "here you go, what do you think of this?". In my case it looked and felt very familiar.

[@rpfree]

I heard you say that the painting is not one of his best, but I kept looking at it thinking ... I'd want that on my wall. I like it a lot better than many of his paintings ...

[@KarlBunker]

Poor Vincent. 😢 Love your videos.

[@wge621]

As always, these analyses are so beautifully done. Thanks for taking the time to make this.

[@msshellm8154]

The painting just screams 'Despair' ... and I do believe van Gogh's is the warped 'perspective', bleary eyed, alienated, probably under the influence and a bit paranoid, and sitting in the corner of that room; as isolated and lost as the other souls in the painting. I was fortunate enough to see 'Starry Night Over the Rhône' in person, when a large collection of Impressionist works were on loan from the Musee d'Orsay while it was being renovated (MANY years ago.) I just kept going back to it; it was gorgeous, compelling, and just had a grip on me. It's the only van Gogh I've seen 'in person' so I would never underestimate the sheer magnetism of any of his work. (There was one other painting that just stayed with me - I think it was a Bernaud, but I just can't find the right one. The way he lit the painting - from 'another room' in the work, somehow throwing light around a corner? Just blew me away. Literally just the lighting of it ... could not get my head around it ...) Sorry, bit of a tangent, but that Night painting and the 2nd one I described will be forever linked in my mind as EXPERIENCES, not 'just' paint on canvas. I guess van Gogh can do that to you.

[@remopiccioni9456]

Reminds me of my 20s hanging out in dive bars. At 1 point I was a night prowler. Now I am in bed by 10 usually. Those were fun times but also times of despair. Lol

[@Scriptease123]

I went to the Van Gogh exhibit in Detroit a couple of weeks ago. It will continue until Jan 22nd. Well worth a special trip.

[@Chocolatebox515]

Thank you 😊 as always 💙

[@Art_Deco]

You're welcome! Thank you for watching!

[@aliceshaw2011]

Oh wow. I’m learning a lot from your videos. Wish I could go to a museum with you. Just looking at the tiny details is so fun. Sad in this case. The big, central vase of roses seems out of place. And it looks like faces are in there among the blossoms. I did see the big eyes before you spoke of them. I was so proud! Thank you.

[@mikebaginy8731]

Thanks for this video! Vincent van Gogh ist one of my favorite painters. A fabulous museum to view many of (not only) his paintings is the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands.

[@geralyn-mm]

I learned so much from you! Thoroughly enjoy your Technique- very entertaining and informative.

[@shirisuchodolsky1376]

"But why would Van Gogh trash talk his own painting??" Girlie have you ever met an artist?

[@ulrichminky9495]

I feel like I am learning things by watching your channel. I do not know if you have been told this but your voice is very compelling. Once you begin speaking I cannot help but pay attention. Cheers from the left edge of Canada. ~ulrich

[@midnightchannel111]

They people in Arles thought he was from another world, too... He quit drinking completely after his time in the sanitarium, turning down alcohol when with Dr. Gachet ("...the blind leading the blind" as he described that doctor's medical abilities). I believe the current theory of porphyria fits, so well in fact that it amazes me how many symptoms were ignored by others in the past when medical and psychological conditions like epilepsy and schizophrenia were 'diagnosed'... The geenerations of family I ntermarriages, the high nunbe rifnother family members who had a milder version of his illness (eg his youngest sisternehonhad herself committed later in life and died in a sanitarium herself.) Same goes for the ear... When Gauguin showed up in the yellow house, Van Gogh writes Theo of how volitile he is:" Good thing there are no machine guns around, if there were wed all be in big trouble" (the gatlin gun was used by the military by the ). Iow, Gauguin cut the ear off. And, of course, the current theory that a teenager bully shot him. Not suicide...

[@hansolo2121]

midnightchannel Well to the people in Arles he literally was from another world. He was not from their town an not even from their country. He probably spoke French with a heavy Dutch accent and was a stranger and 'strange' to them in every way. He was widely seen there as 'that Dutch foreigner weirdo'. And he was always treated by the French people as an outcast who was not one of them and never would be.And Vincent cut off his ear. Go see the documentary The Mystery of Van Gogh's Ear. The Gaugain story is completely made up and is bizarre and without even the siughtest proof. In fact there is only proof for the fact that Van Gogh cut his own ear clean of using a razor. If anything Gaugain was as shocked as anyone would be when he found Van Gogh the next morning.

[@blobbyploppers8013]

Yes, the cyclops eyes always freaked me out! I also see the outline of the door to the back as some kind of cloaked person, almost Grim Reaper..ish.

[@ardalla535]

Everything appears to be melting, descending back into the primordial goo that gave birth to it. I am reminded of the last lines of James Joyce's "The Dead". Joyce was referring to snow; Van Gogh chose to use Light and Heat as oppressively bringing everything down and backwards---back to where it began, and where it belonged. "A few light taps upon the pane made him turn to the window. It had begun to snow again. He watched sleepily the flakes, silver and dark, falling obliquely against the lamplight. The time had come for him to set out on his journey westward. Yes, the newspapers were right: snow was general all over Ireland. It was falling on every part of the dark central plain, on the treeless hills, falling softly upon the Bog of Allen and, farther westward, softly falling into the dark mutinous Shannon waves. It was falling, too, upon every part of the lonely churchyard on the hill where Michael Furey lay buried. It lay thickly drifted on the crooked crosses and headstones, on the spears of the little gate, on the barren thorns. His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead."

[@jacquimg2469]

I look forward to your posts. Your insight is enlightening and presented in a very entertaining way. Thank you!

[@donatella302]

I just found you’re channel and so far love it. Van Gogh is one of my favorite artists. I know The Night Cafe is considered to be a depressing piece, but it has the opposite affect on me as it looks so much like a bar my friends and I used to hang out in many years ago when we were in college. It was a grungy looking place, with the same colors and a pool table in the middle and the seating around the walls. But there were a lot of good times there. I look forward to binge watching more of your videos.

[@jademcqueen5474]

I can't call anything by Vincent anything but beautiful, if I could meet anyone alive or passed it would be him every time. Genius and unique. I honestly just love him ❤️

[@alangrant5278]

Oh how I am captivated by your writing and presentation. Perfection. I wonder if you would do one on Sister Wendy not an artist but art critic and populariser.

[@loveinthematrix]

This is why art is incredible. I love that an artist who can express light and dark. Beauty and ugliness. Depression and joy or hope. They say when you are depressed you see reality for what it is - that’s what the paintings that Van Gogh did here express. Yet, his soul was still alive and so was his faith in the midst of his ability to see reality for what it is when you are lonely and suffering. He still was able to express deep beauty in the midst of his suffering and that is why we’re so drawn to his paintings that evoke that sense - but I love his paintings are more uncomfortable because it shows his complexity and the dark reality of his experience at times but it didn’t stop there. The duality between his faith in beauty and his despair from pain is the ultimate artistic expression in my opinion. I can understand the beauty he expresses more by understanding his lows and empty moments expressed through his art. I love that he believed in God. Beautiful man.

[@WhiteStripesStripiestFan]

This painting reminds me of hot nights when tomorrow is school or work and these nights are begging you to stay and have fun, have a life and you want to be there too only for you to go home early and repeat the same, dreary work or school day by day. I think this is the reason why so many are more sad than happy. At least, from where I live.

[@juleswins3]

I can understand why Van Gogh didn’t like the painting but personally I love it! I really like this narrator’s voice.

[@lynnhubbard844]

he was probably painting himself in a drunken, hunched over fog

[@miketemple7686]

Charlotte, your channel makes KZbin a great place to be. You make art history fun.

[@johnellis955]

The commentary here is absolutely and totally miserable. Van Gogh inspires me.

[@JackRainfield]

I love visiting the Yale Art Museum mainly to see this painting but there's also many more beautiful pieces there including another less famous Van Gogh.

[@krokodyl1927]

Some time ago, I read on line that this painting hung in Yale’s library.

[@yensid4294]

We flew down to LA from SF Bay Area when the Van Gogh exhibition was there. An entire collection of his paintings that usually were in a museum/gallery in Denmark I believe? Anyway, his paintings are very intense. They literally vibrate due to the colors & impasto brush strokes. I hihly recommend seeing them in person.

[@eb7713]

In Houston, there was a master's of the MET exhibit. One of our very favorite paintings there was Van Gogh's White Roses. A print of it could never show the subtle but bright colors throughout the painting. Wow!!!! We went back to see the painting a couple of times before leaving the large exhibit. I bought a postcard of it that is not as powerful, but it has been on my fridge for several years as a reminder of the original beauty of the painting. 💗🎨🖼🌝

[@coyoteartist]

You mean the one at the LA County in 1999? Drove down from Salinas to see that.

[@hansolo2121]

yensid Van Gogh was Dutch not Danish. So you probably saw a collection from one of the museums of Van Goghs home country: The Netherlands. Most of his works can be seen there. As far as I know there is no collection of paintings by Van Gogh in Denmark (?) worth travelling the globe tot San Fransisco...

[@twinklej5459]

I visited the Van Gogh exhibition in Melbourne and you definitely brought it all home. Beautiful videos as always❤

[@thefamilydud2225]

I love this painting. I have a print hanging on my wall. It’s always seemed weird and familiar. I had no idea he hated it.

[@genekelly8467]

Years ago, an art expert speculated that the large amount of absinth he was drinking was affection his color perception..hence the yellows, reds and intense oranges in this scene. I wonder if this theory was found to have any merit.

[@c.w.8200]

It's so relatable though, I've been at a night cafe here and there, that's still a thing in Europe, and that's really what it's like. It's not a club, not a party, just people with nowhere else to go sitting around and drinking.

[@GabeWilliams]

The first thing I notice is the pool table perspective is off, it should be more foreshortened. I can see why he might not like it but it’s also fun to explore

[@hippyelise1]

Excellent video again! You are one of my favorite channels. Thanks 👍😊

[@vanhouten64]

The most amazing thing about this great painting is the glow lines encircling the lights hanging from the ceiling ('glow lines' is a term i just made up). This is my favorite Van Gogh.

[@Dallas-Nyberg]

I'm an artist/painter... it never ceases to amaze/amuse me, when I hear people analyzing my paintings.. Nine times out of ten, they are not even close to correctly summarizing what I did or how I achieved it. However, I do not endeavor to correct them. If, at the end of it all, they like my subject choice and the overall end result, I'm happy.

[@gastondeveaux3783]

I like it. The painting depicts what Van Gogh said he felt about it. And oddly enough, I was comparing it in mind to the famous Nighthawks painting, and then you reference it ! Superb.

[@richardcoughlin8931]

I’ve learned more about paintings from this channel than from all the museums I’ve visited.

[@thorawilson6253]

Found a painting in a thrift store that is a very good copy of Night Cafe. I like Van Gogh, I like orange I like restaurant scenes..but it's an eyesore come paired with my other thrifted watercolors . But it's so good, I couldn't resist, but I haven't hung it in two years.

[@iggyzorro2406]

halos around the lamps seem to imply he may have had cateracts in his eyes.

[@Jordan-mp6up]

How does one mix that colour of the billiards table? Looks like some kind of yellow ochre, maybe a touch of black and slight emerald green or lemon yellow?

[@charlesdeem5963]

Thanks for the great channel! It is a highlight of my online world!

[@Art_Deco]

Wow! Thank you so much Charles for the beyond generous super thanks! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy the content. Also, thank you so much for being a channel member.

[@mattmezzacappa555]

Beautiful video. Thank you. So lovely the the transition from Van Gogh to Hopper.

[@sharonkaczorowski8690]

As someone who has dealt with severe depression, Van Gogh has always had a special place in my heart both as one of my favorite artists and because I identify with his suffering. I’m old enough that it was decades before serotonin uptake inhibitors came along…I see him as anguished from emotional agony, not insane. He could not have produced such an extraordinary, disciplined body of work had he been insane. Severe depression means living a good if life in emotional hell…if you are lucky enough to be creative, that creativity, that time spent focused on a painting, a novel, a poem, has been for me, at least, moments in nirvana. I hope it was for him.

[@Quackzine]

Well said. I hope for more paintings, a novel & poems for you.

[@jsat5609]

To my eye, the painting draws attention to the door at the rear of the cafe. I wonder if the vanishing point where all horizontal line converge is back there somewhere. What's behind the door? A way out? Or something else? This question is unanswerable. We can't see. There's always more than meets the eye or than is apparent.

[@JanetBirdFuller]

Excellent, compelling analysis. Thank you.

[@EdwardGregoryNYC]

Original absinthe wasn't just dangerous for its alcohol content, it also contained wormwood. It can cause dizziness, seizures, hallucinations, and psychosis. It was also called the Green Fairy.

[@lynnhubbard844]

was even illegal in the US for awhile

[@theobolt250]

Desolation, alienation and coming down hard from a halucitory high or very heavy drinking. The worst feeling a person can have. It speaks for Vincent's honesty.

[@Evgesha1990]

I have never liked this Van Gogh's work but you make me to take a fresh look on the painting. Thanks.

[@cosmicabyss7358]

Blind lol

[@OldTimerGarden]

After having grown old personally, I can now look back and realize that Bars are nothing more than places of despair.

[@loreleixo]

Your videos are awesome, please keep making them, I and so many others clearly can't get enough. I know you sell your colouring book, but have you also considered setting up a Patreon? I for one would love to support your work directly, particularly if you provided exclusive additional videos, and I'm sure I'm not alone.

[@mrtriffid]

Very nice analysis! Much art criticism is tired cliché, but you have obviously done your homework, and do a wonderful job of providing context.

[@EKA201-j7f]

Gaugin encouraged Van Gogh to use the cheapest paints he could find/make and his paintings are fading badly partly because of it. There are some sites showing what some of them would have looked like when they were painted. Even the iris and sunflowers were much brighter.

[@TaylorM_72946]

I learned about an interesting theory in school about why Van Gogh’s paintings went through a “yellow period.” Van Gogh had an epileptic seizure at one point and they used to treat that with digitalis, now known as diltiazem, that we use to treat heart conditions like atrial fibrillation. It’s derived from the plant called fox glove, and when you take too much it causes digitalis toxicity. This causes you to see in yellow and green hues or see yellow/green halos. It also can cause altered mental status and visual hallucinations and he was also known to drink, so I wonder if a combination of the toxicity and maybe alcohol withdrawals caused him to do weird stuff. Interesting to think about!

[@babsbybend]

I don't remember seeing this painting before, but my immediate thought was of Edward Cooper's "Nighthawks."

[@56Tyskie]

Great narration. Very soothing voice

[@marahc5252]

I saw this in person and it was very strange. The thick paint stood out to me the most. Love this video!!

[@barrydavis987]

Why do people seem unable to pronounce van Gogh's name?

[@VaryaEQ]

Well I feel like he absolutely nailed his intended purpose for that painting...

[@86sineadw]

Can you review the Dido and Elizabeth painting? I just learned about their story and I would love to hear your take on their story and the painting itself

[@jebjim9391]

that's one of my favorite paintings of his because I was into pool when I first saw it. And it felt to me, like "a drunk person in a pool hall/bar" I LOVE your video btw

[@madahad9]

This painting is at the Yale Museum of Art. It's my favourite piece in the museum and try to find it on any visit. It's one thing to see a painting on a page and it's something else to be present before it. I love to look at the thick swirls of paint that make it look as if it were painted recently. It looks as if you could walk into the cafe, sit down, order a drink, and engage in talk about art. Despite he dislike of the painting it's among my favourite. I read that Van Gogh might have had had epilepsy which some theorize might have contributed to the way he painted with bright and vivid colours that swirled and gave the finished work an otherworldly quality. This is what draws me to Van Gogh over other painters of that period. He seems to what he paintings to come to life, for good or ill in some cases. I love those stark contrasts of colours. He was a sad and fascinating character.

[@janyenyo]

Absolutely agree, saw a Van Gogh in a visiting exhibit and just seeing each paint stroke brought so much emotion -It's been said he would squeeze out whole tubes of paint on the canvas. But I felt like he was there with me.

[@despinasgarden.4100]

The painting itself is not that bad, i really like the lamps and how he painted the light coming from them. But yeah, is kinda ugly compared to his most famous paintings, those are truly beautiful, i don't blame Vincent for hating it tough.

[@dittohead7044]

What do you think of the theory that VG didn’t cut off his ear but that a drunken crazed friend did it. And that VG covered this up to protect his friend?

[@Trund27]

What about the man in white having no legs, and the Freudian issues around the billiard balls and cue pointed towards the back room? (Not my theory - Read about it in a book on Van Gogh years ago.) He might have even painted himself into it - the guy in the yellow hat on the right.

[@dgbebb1]

A framed print of the Night Cafe has hung in various locations within my various residences over the past 40 years. It now rests silently in a storage unit waiting to be hung again some day

[@veiledrecalcitrance4314]

You know, I remember reading something a long time ago about the way someone with mental health issues sometimes sees things too brightly, as well as halos of light around light sources. The problem is, it was so long ago I can’t remember the details of the article, or whatever I was reading it from

[@stevewhite7426]

There’s a eye in the flowers right in the center. Could this be an inspiration for Hopper’s Nighthawks?

[@purplecat4977]

There is an alternate timeline where he actually went to Japan and I am so angry I don't live in it.

[@rimbaud789]

Thank you for your depictions✨ I really wanna see you do one of Ilya Repin's works it could be "studying exam" or "self immolation of gogol" And an another request "fiddling with death" by Arnold Böcklin one of my favorites..

[@catserver8577]

Just the title alone made me say to myself "Well, won't be difficult since all of his paintings do that.". One thing I noticed and maybe my mind is just making it up, the outline of the doorway to the back room kind of fools the eye and looks like the outline of the Virgin Mary. Pair that with the light shining brighter on the other side of the doorway, and maybe it's a hint that he knew the place was detrimental to his health.

[@rulistening7777]

I once used this painting as inspiration for an art class assignment. My piece was titled M.A.D.M. A similar look, but set in a cold, dreary kitchen. A mother prepares to drink her usual cocktail from a tall highball glass. Inside the glass is her child... Who is drowning symbolically in her alcoholism. MADM Mothers Against Drunk Mothers. It was chilling. Vincent loved his greens. I have wondered if his madness may have resulted from pigment poisoning, such as arsenic.