Van Gogh had become involved in an artistic competition with two of his most prolific correspondent, Emile Bernard and Paul Gauguin who were both working in Pont-Aven at the time.
Bernard had sent him a series of drawings of brothel scenes, and in September 1888 these gave van Gogh the idea for a contemporary design in modern idiom, this was The Night Café.
The painting was executed in early September 1888. Van Gogh rented a room in this café before he went to live in the Yellow House.
A night café was an establishment, typically in the South of France, that stayed open all night. Van Gogh stayed up three nights to paint this picture, sleeping only during the day.
History of the Night Café by van Gogh
