The story of the severed ear of Van Gogh

Perhaps the most widely known case is the story of the severed ear of Van Gogh. Of course, in itself, this act is not so unique, but the very fact that his famous artist has committed , and the secret enveloping this incident, still did their job. Now, even the most uninvited reader, taking up a book about Van Gogh, will definitely try to find some information about it.

A small house in the province, or Depression episodes

In 1988, Vincent Van Gogh rented a small house in a small southern French town called Arles. There, a Dutch painter, suffering from bouts of depression, experienced periods of insanity and pain of creativity. Here he wrote several scenes of the countryside of France and the famous series of paintings "Sunflowers."

Exhausted by despair and loneliness, Van Gogh hoped for new acquaintances with creative personalities who would provide him with communication, and, perhaps, help reduce his financial dependence on younger brother Theo, who always supported Vincent Van Gogh. A lonely artist repeatedly turned to his friend Gauguin with a request to join him. And, finally, he heeded his pleas. So the story begins about the ear of Van Gogh.

Entertainment of two friends, or what two artists are arguing about

On October 23, Paul Gauguin knocked on the door of the small house of Van Gogh. They began to study numerous canvases in art galleries, brightened up their leisure time in local brothels. Their relationship was quite stormy. Two post-Impressionists constantly argued, starting with spending on the household and ending with the merits of Delacroix or Rembrandt.

Paul Gauguin constantly grumbled about the dirt in the studio. Moreover, he threw away all the bedding of Vincent van Gogh. And immediately sent for his own, which were to be delivered directly from Paris. The small house quickly filled with an atmosphere of tension. Paul was more and more concerned about Vincent's condition, which periodically kept pensive silence, and at times showed unstable outbursts of insanity. Gauguin often wrote about this in his letters to Theo Van Gogh, his friend's younger brother.

Another fit of insanity, or Scream of despair

Finally, two days before Christmas, which Van Gogh, by the way, never liked, Paul told him that he plans to return to Paris. In the evening he went for a walk, when suddenly Vincent overtook him from behind and threatened him with a razor. Gauguin reassured his friend, but just in case he spent the night in a neighboring hotel. Could Paul then have imagined how this decision would affect the further events in Van Gogh's ear.

Vincent returned to his deserted house. Again, one ... All his dreams of an eternal stay next to him Paul Gauguin were destroyed. In the next fit of insanity, the artist took a razor, pulled the left earlobe of his ear and cut it off. The severed ear artery began to bleed profusely, and Vincent bandaged his head with a wet towel. But on this story about the ear of Van Gogh does not end. The artist carefully wrapped it in a newspaper and went to a brothel located in the neighborhood where he found the familiar Paul Gauguin. He handed it to him and asked him to keep it carefully. Seeing the contents, the poor woman fainted, and Van Gogh staggering, went home.

The ear of Van Gogh. Photo of self-portrait with bandaged head

Alarmed woman decided to inform the police about this incident, and the next morning the artist was found in bed unconscious, filled with blood. He was placed in a local hospital. Vincent Van Gogh repeatedly asked to be visited by his friend. But Paul Gauguin did not come. Hospitalization lasted for several weeks, and then Van Gogh returned to his small house.

There he continued to write his works and even documented the last violent episode, which readers know as a story about the ear of Van Gogh, in the form of a self-portrait with bandaged head bandages. Manic attacks from time to time continued, and most of the following year Vincent Van Gogh spent in the psychiatric clinic of Saint-Remy. But the treatment did not save the shattered psyche of the famous artist, and on July 27, 1890, he shot himself.

The most famous moment in life, or What brings solitude

What else can be said about the severed ear of Van Gogh? The story that took place on December 23, 1888, remains the most famous fragment from the life of the famous artist. Most of the story about those events was made from the words of Paul Gauguin, whom the police initially suspected of committing this act. Until now, among art critics and biographers, there is an opinion that the situation actually looked somewhat different.

Most likely, this story served as a cover only, which was invented by two artists to protect Gauguin, who chopped off Van Gogh's ear with his fencing sword during another quarrel. Considering how Vincent desperately wanted to keep his friendship with Paul, you can also believe in this version.

However, more friends have never seen each other. And this history was forever an unsolved mystery, which interested not only contemporaries, but also many today's admirers of the talented artist's work. Moreover, it turns out, there is even a song, which is called "Van Gogh's Ear". Kashin Pavel, a well-known contemporary performer, apparently tried to convey in it those emotions that Vincent Van Gogh felt during this crazy act.