VAN GOGHS EAR

[Jim McDougall]

In 2019, Fernando posted a thread on a Lefaucheaux 7mm pinfire revolver which was a relic found in a field in Arles, France and sold at auction as the gun with which Vincent Van Gogh allegedly committed suicide in 1890.
Naturally there was great consternation over its authenticity, just as the actual circumstances of this event has ever been contested and debated.

It seems that Vincent not only left that conundrum, and of course his art, but another mystery involving the most famous drama in art history, his dramatically excised ear. The dramatic story of the psychologically tortured struggling artist, in a fit of desperation, sliced off his own ear, was likely one of the key factors that helped propel him into art fame and legend.

However, in 2009 a new theory arose toward this mutilation which has become controversial, as new theories typically are. That the actual severing of the ear was done by Van Gogh's troublesome room mate, the artist Paul Gaugin.

German scholars Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans, in their 2009 book, "Van Goghs Ear: Paul Gaugin and the Pact of Silence".
In this, they propose, based on compelling evidence and remarkable historic forensics, that in the heated argument of the night of Dec. 23,1888 in the famed 'yellow house', Gaugin grabbed a bag and stormed off into the night.
As Arles in these areas, near the bordellos (frequented by him) it was a seamy place, and he took his trusted epee with him for defense.

The enraged Van Gogh soon followed, but wielding a straight razor, and allegedly moved toward Gaugin in a threatening manner. Instinctively Gaugin made several quick fencing moves, and in this blur, Van Gogh lost his left ear (or it seems most of it). They were both of course stunned, and probably the anger became shock. They both agreed tacitly that this action would not be brought up by either to avoid criminal prosecution and humiliation, thus 'a pact of silence'.

Why this is interesting from an arms perspective, much as the case of the pistol allegedly used in the later suicide, is how weapons themselves become key icons in historic events.

While the possibility and/or probability of this severing of an ear by the sword is as noted, contested, it must be noted that Paul Gaugin was not an amatuer fencer, but quite accomplished. He had trained under several noted French masters, and attended a military academy for fencing. He had even been involved in at least two duel challenges, though not carried out. He had even written on fencing and taught for a time.

Some of the accounts found regarding this event use the term 'foil' toward the sword Gaugin carried that night, obviously a misnomer, and what he had was an epee.
Gaugin had written regarding situations with the sword,
"...if you have before you someone who has never fenced, take care, he is dangerous. He uses a sword simply as he does a stick, slashing up and down. Do not hesitate, make the counterpoint, and a blow on the head or face will properly settle him for you".

Here we see that Gaugin, who had actually feared for his safety with the often irrational Van Gogh, and now faced with a razor by an enraged 'madman', acted in accord with his training. Surely he did not mean for such an injury with the threatening moulinets or slashes with his epee, but in the heat of the moment at night, the unthinkable happened.

In accounts of the wounded ear by the doctor (though years later) and others, it was said that the ear was cut, almost surgically, in a sort of diagonal fashion. It would seem this would correspond with the kind of downward slash of an epee, and in the manner described toward the training Gaugin had written about.

It is well known that Van Gogh suffered from various issues, the most notable was what was then regarded as epilepsy (now seen as likely Menieres, which has tinnitus, ringing in the ears one symptom). It seems that an argument toward self mutilation might attack the offending ear, however the medical association views are this is unlikely, and self mutilation characteristics do not align with this event.

In the famed painting posted, it seems the right ear is bandaged. It is noted that self portraits were of course in reverse as they are in accord with the mirror., it was his LEFT ear severed.

The book "Van Goghs Ear", by Bernadette Murphy, 2016, presents great insight into this dilemma.