A couple who split up after just two months of living together—Van Gogh & Paul Gauguin

In 1888, on a quiet street in Arles, southern France, Vincent van Gogh was dreaming of a new future in the Yellow House. What he envisioned was not merely an artist’s studio, but an artistic community where painters could come together and collaborate. And he chose Paul Gauguin as the first companion in that dream.

A passionate 63-day cohabitation

However, this cohabitation came to an end after just 63 days, and a shocking incident occurred that would go down in art history. During this brief yet intense period, the two exerted a powerful artistic influence on one another, yet simultaneously experienced destructive conflict. Ultimately, Van Gogh resorted to the extreme act of cutting off his own ear.

A Clash of Geniuses: ‘Two Completely Different People’

Although both Van Gogh and Gauguin were innovative painters of their time, their artistic philosophies were diametrically opposed. Van Gogh sought to express nature as it was, through spontaneous brushstrokes, intense touches imbued with raw emotion, whilst Gauguin placed great importance on imagination and composition. His style emphasised inner emotions and symbolism rather than the reproduction of reality.

Although they recognised each other’s talents, the two continued to clash.

“You’re too impulsive! You’re not painting, you’re just splashing emotions about!” – Gauguin
“You’re too calculating! Art must follow feeling!” – Van Gogh

As the arguments continued, their relationship deteriorated, and the conflict escalated to dangerous levels.

“I can’t take it any longer!” – The Fateful Night

On the night of 23 December 1888, Van Gogh and Gauguin had their worst argument yet.
Gauguin finally declared that he would leave Van Gogh, and at that moment, Van Gogh’s anxiety reached a fever pitch.

And that night, a bloody incident occurred. Van Gogh cut off his own ear.

Did Van Gogh really cut off his own ear?

According to records, Van Gogh used a razor to cut off his left ear and is said to have handed it to a prostitute named ‘Rascalet’. However, recent research has raised another possibility regarding this incident.

Van Gogh’s ear: could Gauguin have cut it off?

Contrary to the traditionally accepted account, some researchers suggest the possibility that it was Gauguin who cut off Van Gogh’s ear.

• At the time, Gauguin was a swordsman who had trained in fencing.
• There are records indicating that on the day of the violent altercation with Van Gogh, Gauguin attempted to leave the house armed with a knife.
• Some researchers argue that it is possible Gauguin accidentally cut off Van Gogh’s ear during a physical altercation between the two men.
• In a letter sent to his brother Theo on 17 January 1889, Van Gogh wrote in a manner suggesting that Gauguin had cut off his ear with a fencing sword.

However, Van Gogh continued to insist that he had cut off his own ear, and Gauguin also remained silent on the matter.

Consequently, this hypothesis remains a subject of controversy due to a lack of clear evidence.

Van Gogh to hospital, Gauguin to Tahiti

Following the ear-cutting incident, Van Gogh was admitted to hospital, and his mental state gradually deteriorated. However, he did not collapse immediately. Even after cutting off his ear, he continued to work for several months, producing masterpieces such as *The Starry Night*.

Meanwhile, Gauguin left Van Gogh and travelled to Tahiti, where he established a new style of painting characterised by primitive colours and symbolism. Although they never met again, without those intense 63 days, the ‘Van Gogh’ and ‘Gauguin’ we know today might not have existed. This is the story of a brief yet intense cohabitation that changed the course of art history.