White House at Night

A prominent star in the sky, identified by astronomers as Venus, is often seen as a symbol of fate, conveying the artist's profound anguish during this period.

The painting portrays a single house illuminated by warm evening light. Interpreters suggest the work reflects Van Gogh's intense psychological state; the house's windows, rendered with striking red accents, have been likened to "alarming" eyes. A prominent star in the sky, identified by astronomers as Venus, is often seen as a symbol of fate, conveying the artist's profound anguish during this period.

Created during Van Gogh's final weeks, the painting exhibits a dynamic brushwork that suggests the artist's rapid execution. The scene, set in the tranquil village of Auvers-sur-Oise, is imbued with a vibrant palette, capturing the warm glow of dusk. This expressive handling of paint and color characterizes his late works, reflecting both the visual richness of his surroundings and his urgent creative drive.

The artwork's journey through the 20th century was complex. After being exhibited in Switzerland during the 1920s, it entered the private collection of German industrialist Otto Krebs, who kept his acquisitions, many of which were later deemed "degenerate art" by the Nazis, out of public view. Believed lost after World War II, the painting remained uncatalogued in the Hermitage archives for five decades before its public reappearance in 1995, as part of an exhibition of art recovered by the Soviets.

Van Gogh completed this canvas in Auvers-sur-Oise, a village that inspired many of his final paintings. Astronomical analysis, based on the position of the depicted star, suggests the scene was captured around 8:00 PM. Researchers Donald Olson and Russell Doescher identified this celestial body as Venus, which shone brightly in the evening sky of June 1890, grounding the painting in a specific moment in time.