The True Diagnosis of Vincent Van Gogh
And the heroic struggle to love life in spite of mental illness
On Christmas Eve 1888, a extraordinary scene was taking place. In a dilapidated yellow house in Arles, Vincent Van Gogh, an as of yet unknown painter, was about to spectacularly fall-out with his best friend. As result, he was also about to experience the worst crisis of his life.
Shacked up with man about town, Post-Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin, what was a two month experiment in the South of France, instigated by Vincent’s brother Theo, was now imploding.
Creative differences aside, Vincent revered Gaugin, but found him arrogant and domineering. Gaugin on the other hand found Vincent needy and erratic. He was also suspicious Theo, an art dealer by trade, might be using him for financial gain. Both were not far off in their assessments.
Things came to head the night before Christmas, when Gauguin decided he’d had enough. He packed his bags and made to leave. The terror of imminent anbadonment proved so severe for Vincent that he soon became hysterical, and threw a glass of absinthe in his friend’s face.
