The theme of night is often found in the work of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists. Artists such as Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, and Vincent van Gogh used this concept to create works that evoke nighttime. They use different hues to portray the different aspects of light in a scene. Many of these paintings also depict nighttime scenes and the changes in lighting as a result. Here are some examples of night paintings:
Starry Night is arguably the most famous painting of the night. Originally believed to depict the view from Van Gogh's bedroom window, the painting has since become one of the most popular night paintings of all time. Vincent van Gogh was obsessed with painting at night and was known for his nocturnal canvases, including Night Cafe Terrace and Starry Night over the Rhone. Van Gogh painted several versions of this scene, each displaying unique brushstrokes.
The Witches' Sabbath, a representation of the Devil, is another important night painting. In this painting, a group of witches is celebrating the Devil, who is depicted as a black goat with impressive horns and oak leaves. Another famous night painting of the night is a scene that depicts an old crone wearing a black dress holding a starving infant. This superstition said that the Devil fed on children, so the setting in this painting would be deserted and solitary.
Starry Night Over the Rhone was painted in a spot on the banks of the Rhone where Van Gogh was staying. He was rented a house on the Place Lamartine while painting the scene. Several famous night paintings of his include Night Café at the Grand Hotel in Paris. A view of this painting at night shows the reflections of gas and water lights over the Rhone, creating a breathtaking nighttime scene. Throughout the entire painting, the reflected colors reflect each other, enhancing the starry sky.
Vincent van Gogh's most famous nocturnal paintings, the Starry Night and Café Terrace at Night, were painted at nighttime. He was fascinated by the atmosphere of night and enjoyed the challenge of painting at night. He was inspired by the starry sky and was particularly enamored with the use of artificial lighting. Although he remained a popular artist for a long time, he was plagued with mental illness throughout his short life. It took nearly three years before he died at age 37.
Despite his mental illness, Van Gogh was an extremely prolific artist and suffered from severe bouts of depression. The painting was a reflection of his mental state and he had been voluntarily committed to an asylum at the age of 36. Although he was initially unhappy with the finished Starry Night, he devoted himself to the creation of the painting in spite of the ailment. His death was a result of a gunshot to the head after he finished the painting.