Starry night over the rhone

Van Gogh painted this peaceful nighttime scene in 1888 while living in Arles, France, capturing the view from the riverbank near his rented room. Unlike his more famous swirling starry night, this version feels calmer and more grounded in reality. The gas lights from the town shimmer in golden yellow streaks across the dark water, while stars twinkle above in the deep blue sky. You can even spot two lovers taking an evening stroll along the shore in the foreground.

This painting shows Van Gogh's fascination with painting at night, which was still quite unusual for artists at the time. He was captivated by the challenge of capturing artificial light and starlight together, and how they transformed the landscape. The thick, energetic brushstrokes that became his signature style are already visible here, giving the water and sky a sense of movement and life. Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo about how much he loved working on night scenes, despite the practical difficulties of painting outdoors in the dark with candles stuck to his hat.