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Title: Gauguin Cut Off Van Gogh's Ear Post by: ER on May 07, 2009, 10:12:42 AM http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/arts_and_culture/8033650.stm
Gauguin 'cut off Van Gogh's ear' Vincent van Gogh did not cut off his own ear but lost it in a fight with fellow artist Paul Gauguin in a row outside a brothel, it has been claimed. It has long been accepted that the mentally ill Dutch painter cut off his own ear with a razor after the row in Arles, southern France, in 1888. But a new book, based on the original police investigation, claims Gauguin swiped Van Gogh's ear with a sword. The authors argue the official version of events contains inconsistencies. Witness statements The book, titled In Van Gogh's Ear: Paul Gauguin and the Pact of Silence, is the product of 10 years of research by German academics Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans. They looked at witness accounts and letters sent by the two artists, concluding that the row ended with Gauguin - a keen fencer - cutting his friend's ear off. Van Gogh then apparently wrapped it in cloth and handed it to a prostitute, called Rachel. Mr Kaufmann said it was not clear whether it was an accident or a deliberate attempt to injure Van Gogh, but afterwards both men agreed to tell the police the self-harm story to protect Gauguin. He said the traditional version of events is based on contradictory and improbable evidence, and no independent witness statement exists. "Gauguin was not present at the supposed self-mutilation," he told Le Figaro newspaper in France. "As for Van Gogh, he didn't confirm anything. Their behaviour afterwards and various suggestions by the protagonists indicate they were hiding the truth." Gauguin later moved to Tahiti, where he produced some of his most famous works. Van Gogh died in 1890 after shooting himself in the chest. Title: Re: Gauguin Cut Off Van Gogh's Ear Post by: ghouck on May 07, 2009, 10:35:09 AM Got his earlobe cut off in a fight, and handed it to a hooker. A far Cry from the original version.
Through history we have seen many educated, intelligent, highly functional and productive people that seem to suffer from mental illness, especially, like Van Gogh, illness that set in later in life. Two answers that I would bet are more common than many people think are lead poison and syphilis. Title: Re: Gauguin Cut Off Van Gogh's Ear Post by: Ed, Ego and Superego on May 07, 2009, 02:53:29 PM Amazing, ear today, gone tomorrow.
-Ed Title: Re: Gauguin Cut Off Van Gogh's Ear Post by: Jim H on May 09, 2009, 12:46:07 AM Got his earlobe cut off in a fight, and handed it to a hooker. A far Cry from the original version. Through history we have seen many educated, intelligent, highly functional and productive people that seem to suffer from mental illness, especially, like Van Gogh, illness that set in later in life. Two answers that I would bet are more common than many people think are lead poison and syphilis. Yep, I agree. It's amazing how often people forget that mental problems and weird psychological traits can be caused by physical factors of your environment, diet, etc. |