The work has been called one of Van Gogh's masterpieces and one of his most famous. Unlike typical Impressionist works, the painter does not project a neutral stance towards the world or an attitude of enjoyment of the beauty of nature or of the moment.
The painting is an instance of Van Gogh's "suggestive colour" or "arbitrary colour" in which the artist infused his work with his emotions. What was later called Expressionism.