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For 63 days in late 1888, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin shared a house together in Arles, a town in the South of France. The two Post-Impressionist masters produced some of their most memorable works during this period, with Van Gogh in particular especially prolific. But the friendship quickly deteriorated to the point where Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with violence. And worse was to come, with a near-insane Van Gogh eventually severing his ear. So, what led a seemingly untroubled and productive relationship to turn so sour?
Click through the following gallery and revisit one of the most remarkable and ultimately tragic episodes in the history of art.
Vincent van Gogh was born on March 30, 1853, in Zundert, Netherlands. He's pictured here in 1873 when he worked at the Goupil & Cie gallery in The Hague.
The Dutch Post-Impressionist painter is among the most famous and influential figures in the history of Western art.
Paul Gauguin was born on June 7, 1848, in Paris, France. He's pictured here in 1891.
Gauguin was a painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer. He was also a highly influential figure in the Post-Impressionist movement and associated, too, with the Symbolist art movement.
In October 1888, Gauguin arrived in the French city of Arles at the behest of Van Gogh. The pair roomed together in the "Yellow House" on Place Lamartine. It would be their home for the next two months. The modest property was immortalized by Van Gogh in several paintings, including 'The Yellow House' (1888).
The two artists were good friends and both nurtured a dream of creating in Arles a community of avant-garde artists.
Van Gogh had befriended the Yellow House's proprietors, Joseph and Marie Ginoux, and was able to use it as a studio.
Gauguin had recently visited the French island of Martinique, his true source of inspiration. Gauguin's art dealer in Paris was Van Gogh's brother, Theo. Theo had promised Gauguin 150 francs a month if he relocated to Arles.
Gauguin had accepted Van Gogh's invitation in the hopes of scraping enough money together to return to the Caribbean.
Thus began one of the most extraordinary episodes in the history of art, and one that would ultimately end in tragedy.
The two artists spent nine weeks living together in the South of France. They shared expenses and both painted the same subjects.
In fact, a competitive undercurrent prevailed in the small house. Van Gogh in particular was very prolific: he completed 200 paintings and more than 100 drawings and watercolors.
Paul Gauguin was more selective during his time in Arles, producing around 17 works that reflected his growing interest in Symbolism and Synthetism.
The two men imbibed a lot, absinthe being the drink of choice. As the weeks wore on, their relationship began to deteriorate.
The contrast in personalities became more apparent. While Gauguin was a slow and methodical worker, Van Gogh was impulsive in nature, turning out a painting in a matter of hours.
Despite their complex personalities and unique painting styles, Van Gogh and Gauguin still managed to work together. But it was the Dutchman who was the more dominant personality and who clearly asserted his identity as an artist.
Van Gogh began taking advantage of his friend. He'd dip into Gauguin's money and took no part in the household chores.
Van Gogh's behavior grew increasingly erratic. The relationship between the two was now fraught and totally unbalanced.
Yet Van Gogh remained driven. His time at Arles saw him produce some of his most famous works, including the iconic 'Sunflower' series.
Van Gogh's portrait series was also created in Arles. His painting of Eugène Boch (The Poet) is significant because it was Boch's sister, Ana, who bought the only painting Van Gogh sold in his lifetime, 'La Vigne Rouge' (The Red Vineyard).
Gauguin shared his friend's passion for nightlife, and both frequented Arles' cafés. Van Gogh also visited several house of ill repute.
One night after a heavy bout of drinking, an enraged Van Gogh threw a glass at Gauguin. It proved a breaking point. Gauguin announced that he was leaving and started making arrangements to travel back to Paris.
Gauguin's decision to leave Arles took Van Gogh over the edge. On December 23, 1888, the two men engaged in a violent discussion on painting, during which Gauguin insisted he should work from imagination and Van Gogh from nature.
Matters then escalated. The next day, his sanity already fragile, Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a knife.
Gauguin, fearing for his life, left the Yellow House and checked into a hotel.
In a further fit of rage, Gauguin's troubled housemate returned to the Yellow House, grabbed a razor, and sliced off the lower part of his left ear (self-portraits of Van Gogh were painted using a mirror, so it appears his right ear is bandaged).
Van Gogh's self-mutilation was the gossip of Arles. A local newspaper report dated December 30, 1888, recorded the event: "Last Sunday, at 11.30 pm, the painter Vincent Vangogh, a native of Holland, arrived at licensed brothel no. 1, asking for Rachel by name, and gave her his ear, saying: 'Keep this object carefully.' He then disappeared. Informed of this fact, which could only be that of a poor insane person, the police went the next morning to this person, who they found lying in his bed, showing almost no sign of life. This unfortunate man was admitted to the hospice as a matter of urgency."
One of the residents of Arles who had sat for Van Gogh was Félix Rey, a doctor at Arles' hospital who cared for the stricken artist after he had severed his ear. Pictured is a note written by Dr. Rey for American novelist Irving Stone with sketches of the damage to Van Gogh's ear.
While he was recovering, Van Gogh produced 'The Courtyard of the Hospital in Arles,' the only works he painted of the hospital in Arles during his convalescence.
Gauguin left Arles and the two men would never see each other again in person, although they continued to correspond. On April 1, 1891, Paul Gauguin set sail for Tahiti.
Van Gogh entered the Saint-Paul asylum on May 8, 1889. The following year, he moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, where he produced what is believed to be his last paining, 'Tree Roots.' On July 29, 1890, Vincent Van Gogh took his own life, aged 37.
Sources: (Artsy) (Biography) (Rise Art) (The Vincent van Gogh Gallery)
See also: The fascinating stories behind the world's most famous paintings
The tumultuous friendship between Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin
The complex relationship that drove Van Gogh to cut off his ear
LIFESTYLE Art
For 63 days in late 1888, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin shared a house together in Arles, a town in the South of France. The two Post-Impressionist masters produced some of their most memorable works during this period, with Van Gogh in particular especially prolific. But the friendship quickly deteriorated to the point where Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with violence. And worse was to come, with a near-insane Van Gogh eventually severing his ear. So, what led a seemingly untroubled and productive relationship to turn so sour?
Click through the following gallery and revisit one of the most remarkable and ultimately tragic episodes in the history of art.