The Ear of Van Gogh ..
This topic was created in the History forum by ~mystic_fish on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 and has 8 replies.
Revealed: Vincent Van Gogh didn't cut off his own ear.. his friend did it in row
May 5 2009 By Don Mackay
IT'S ONE of the great stories of the tortured artist - how Van Gogh cut off his ear over his love for a prostitute.
But it's not true, claims a new book by two German art historians.
They say Vincent Van Gogh had his ear chopped off by his then friend and fellow painter Paul Gauguin in a row over a woman.
Gauguin drew a sword in an argument outside a brothel when they were staying at Arles in the south of France in 1888.
He then made up the selfmutilation story to cover his tracks and avoid a prison sentence.
The original story inspired the hit song by Don McLean, Vincent, and Kirk Douglas's Hollywood classic movie, Lust For Life.
But the new interpretation comes after a 10-year study by the two historians.
One of them, Hans Kaufmann, of Hamburg University, said: "To get rid of Van Gogh, who was begging him to stay, Gauguin waved his weapon in the direction of the victim while they were in front of the house of ill repute.
"The left ear fell. We cannot say if it was deliberate or an accident. The protagonists vowed to keep silent.
"Gauguin disappeared, abandoning his friend. Next day,the police questioned him.
"That's when he made up the story about self-mutilation."
Van Gogh, recovering in bed, refused to tell the police what had happened. There were no other witnesses.
But he was so upset by Gauguin's betrayal, he killed himself seven months later.
He was possibly suffering from lead poisoning caused by the paints he used.
May 5 2009 By Don Mackay
IT'S ONE of the great stories of the tortured artist - how Van Gogh cut off his ear over his love for a prostitute.
But it's not true, claims a new book by two German art historians.
They say Vincent Van Gogh had his ear chopped off by his then friend and fellow painter Paul Gauguin in a row over a woman.
Gauguin drew a sword in an argument outside a brothel when they were staying at Arles in the south of France in 1888.
He then made up the selfmutilation story to cover his tracks and avoid a prison sentence.
The original story inspired the hit song by Don McLean, Vincent, and Kirk Douglas's Hollywood classic movie, Lust For Life.
But the new interpretation comes after a 10-year study by the two historians.
One of them, Hans Kaufmann, of Hamburg University, said: "To get rid of Van Gogh, who was begging him to stay, Gauguin waved his weapon in the direction of the victim while they were in front of the house of ill repute.
"The left ear fell. We cannot say if it was deliberate or an accident. The protagonists vowed to keep silent.
"Gauguin disappeared, abandoning his friend. Next day,the police questioned him.
"That's when he made up the story about self-mutilation."
Van Gogh, recovering in bed, refused to tell the police what had happened. There were no other witnesses.
But he was so upset by Gauguin's betrayal, he killed himself seven months later.
He was possibly suffering from lead poisoning caused by the paints he used.
More on this passionate artistic duo:
--What is not disputed is that Van Gogh lost his ear when the two artists were living in the South of France in December 1888.
--The academics say the accepted theory that Van Gogh cut off his own ear is based entirely on Gauguin's story. Van Gogh never talked about it.
--'Subsequent behaviour and numerous allusions by the protagonists suggest they were hiding the truth,' Mr Kaufmann told French newspaper Le Figaro.
--The two were known to fight about art. Van Gogh believed an artist should paint what he saw, while Gauguin painted according to his memory.
--But on this occasion, they were fighting over a prostitute named Rachel, outside the brothel where she worked, the book says.
--If the truth had come out, Gauguin could have faced prison, whereas Van Gogh's retreat would never have been closed, the academics added. (The Dutch painter, who travelled to France after teaching himself to draw, was attempting to set up an artists' retreat).
--Gauguin is said to have thrown his sword into the River Rhone out of remorse. Neither the sword nor the razor Van Gogh is said to have used to cut himself were found.
There have been many theories about how Van Gogh lost his ear. Some blame his descent into mental illness, others the breakdown of his friendship with Gauguin. But before now, they have never disputed that it was self-inflicted. This theory is the masterpiece of German historians who have pored over the evidence for ten years.
--What is not disputed is that Van Gogh lost his ear when the two artists were living in the South of France in December 1888.
--The academics say the accepted theory that Van Gogh cut off his own ear is based entirely on Gauguin's story. Van Gogh never talked about it.
--'Subsequent behaviour and numerous allusions by the protagonists suggest they were hiding the truth,' Mr Kaufmann told French newspaper Le Figaro.
--The two were known to fight about art. Van Gogh believed an artist should paint what he saw, while Gauguin painted according to his memory.
--But on this occasion, they were fighting over a prostitute named Rachel, outside the brothel where she worked, the book says.
--If the truth had come out, Gauguin could have faced prison, whereas Van Gogh's retreat would never have been closed, the academics added. (The Dutch painter, who travelled to France after teaching himself to draw, was attempting to set up an artists' retreat).
--Gauguin is said to have thrown his sword into the River Rhone out of remorse. Neither the sword nor the razor Van Gogh is said to have used to cut himself were found.
There have been many theories about how Van Gogh lost his ear. Some blame his descent into mental illness, others the breakdown of his friendship with Gauguin. But before now, they have never disputed that it was self-inflicted. This theory is the masterpiece of German historians who have pored over the evidence for ten years.
Vincent Van Gogh: Dutch Post-Impressionist (30 March 1853 ??? 29 July 1890)
Van Gogh Gallery ~believed an artist should paint what he saw.
Van Gogh is a pioneer of what came to be known as Expressionism. He had an enormous influence on 20th century art, especially on the Fauves and German Expressionists.
Paul Gauguin: Post-Impressionist/Symbolist (7 June 1848 ??? 8 May 1903)
Paul Gaugin Gallery ~believed an artist should paint by memory.
His bold experimentation with coloring led directly to the Synthetist style of modern art..
Van Gogh Gallery ~believed an artist should paint what he saw.
Van Gogh is a pioneer of what came to be known as Expressionism. He had an enormous influence on 20th century art, especially on the Fauves and German Expressionists.
Paul Gauguin: Post-Impressionist/Symbolist (7 June 1848 ??? 8 May 1903)
Paul Gaugin Gallery ~believed an artist should paint by memory.
His bold experimentation with coloring led directly to the Synthetist style of modern art..
now tell me Gaugin did not die of syphilis in Tahiti in 1903.
LOL, as far as i know, that one's a given.. =) Too bad though, he would've lived with today's medical advances, but then again, likely not the great artist of the era that birthed him.
true very true
van Gogh
The american song writer Don McLean wrote a song called Vincent great song.
He wrote it after visiting the Van Gogh museum.
He also wrote american pie
The american song writer Don McLean wrote a song called Vincent great song.
He wrote it after visiting the Van Gogh museum.
He also wrote american pie
Posted by everevolvingepithet
I think he'd probably be screaming trying to peel the pillow from the scabbing tbh
LMAO Can you imagine the itch as its healing?
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