Café Terrace at Night (Place du Forum, Arles) 1888

Vincent van Gogh painted "Café Terrace at Night" in Arles, using oil on canvas to capture a bustling scene of leisure and commerce. The thick application of paint—the impasto—influences everything about the picture’s appearance. Notice how the built-up texture catches the light, animating the scene. Van Gogh's direct, expressive brushstrokes record the labor and time invested in this work. The materiality speaks volumes about the era. In the late 19th century, industrially produced pigments became widely available, allowing artists to achieve intense, saturated colors like the vivid yellows and blues seen here. This painting reflects the changing landscape of art and labor, bridging traditional craftsmanship with the emerging possibilities of mass production. By focusing on materials and making, we appreciate how this picture connects the artist's vision to broader social and economic shifts.