Here is a copy of Van Gogh’s “The Night Café”. I have always liked
this one even though its just set in a ramshackle
French cafe. At 35 Van Gogh was starting to lose his mind. His nights were
tormented by demons and, unable to sleep, he would visit the café as it stayed
open all night. It was a place where prostitutes, dropouts and alcoholics ended
up.
A lady called
Marie Ginoux owned the café (she is supposed to be
the lady in white karate style clothes stood by the pool table). Van Gogh owed
her a modest sum for his eats and treats and gave her the painting to settle
his bill. That was in 1888 and Van Gogh died soon after. The painting wound up in
an art gallery in Moscow is 1930. At this time the Russian authorities sold it
to an American man who donated it Yale University Connecticut, America. It has
remained there since.
I’ve added a bit
more colour on my painting. Despite everything being painted like a cartoon
with black lines round the edges it wasn’t easy to paint and took about 5
hours.