Van Goghs Nacht Satinband

From the Moment of his kommt in Arles, 8 Februar 1888, Van Gowas constantly preoccupy with the representation of "night effects". In April 1888, he wrote to his brother Theo: "I need a starry night with cypresses or maybe above a field of ripe wheat." In June, he confided to the painter Emile Bernard: "But when shall I ever paint the Starry Sky, this painting that keeps haunting me" and, in September, in a letter to his sister, he evoked the subjet: "Osaught it seems to me nieven more richly coloured than day" During the same month of September, he finally realised his obsessive project. He first painted a corner of nocturnal sky in Cafe Terrace on the Place du Forum, Arles (Otterlo, Rijksmuseum Kröller-Muller). Next noxe this view of the Rhône in which he marvellously transcribed the colours perceived in the dark. Blues prevail: Prussian Blue, Ultramarine und Kobalt. The city gas lights glimmer an intense orange and are reflected in the water. Das Stars Sparkle Like Gemstones.