Dozens of pieces were sold to wealthy European and American collectors, The Night Cafe amongst them. Once in the West, the painting was bought by Yale alumnus Carlton Clark. Upon his death, Clark bequeathed the painting to his alma mater, where it was proudly hung at the Yale University Art Gallery.
Now, Pierre Konowaloff, great grandson of Ivan Morozov, wants the painting. His argument: his grandfather's collection was illegally seized without compensation.

Yale spokesman Tom Conroy told RT that, “the painting was owned for decades by an alumnus of the University [Carlton Clark], who had good title to the painting, which Yale now has.” Conroy admits that such nationalization of property is at ‘odds with American values’, but insists it does not violate international law.

Konowaloff and his lawyer Al Gerson state in the lawsuit that Yale “knew or should have known at the time of the bequest that the sale to Mr. Clark constituted perpetuation of the theft of cultural property.”

Konowaloff argues that, because Morozov received no compensation for the painting, and because international law does not support the nationalization of cultural property, the confiscation was illegal. In his complaint, he states Yale should have suspected that the painting had been unlawfully obtained and notified the heirs of Morozov of the newly acquired possession. Konowaloff says Yale engaged in a policy of “willful ignorance”.

Yale responds that descendants of Morozov should have presented the case within three years of Yale coming into possession of the painting.

To that, Konowaloff states that the statute does not apply because he had no way of knowing that Yale was in possession of the painting prior to the death of his father, when he began documenting the collection.
While there is no official estimate of the value of this work of art, Van Gogh art pieces usually sell for tens of millions of dollars. In 1990, Van Gogh’s 'Portrait of Dr Gachet' sold for a record $82.5 million.

The complicated case will be eagerly watched by the world’s most prominent art collectors as it goes to the Connecticut Court. Should the painting be returned to its hereditary owner, the ownership of other previously nationalized Soviet paintings will be challenged.