Drama at Arles new light on Van Gogh's self-mutilation

Apollo, Sept, 2005 by Martin Bailey

The dating of the absinthe incident also makes it possible to date Van Gogh Painting Sunflowers (Fig. 5), which was referred to by Gauguin. Although normally dated to the first half of December 1888, it can now be dated more precisely to about 10 December, assuming Gauguin's recollection is correct. This in turn helps with the dating of Van Gogh's recently-identified Portrait of Gauguin. (11) Although a rough and possibly abandoned study, it was almost certainly done at the time Gauguin was painting the portrait of him. Portrait of Gauguin (Fig. 2) was therefore painted early in the month, certainly by 10 December.

[FIGURE 2 OMITTED]

Despite the personal difficulties between them, Van Gogh desperately wanted Gauguin to stay. Gauguin's income was important for running the Yellow House, but Van Gogh also valued his companionship and artistic stimulation. On either 16 or 17 December the two artists made a day trip to Montpellier, seventy kilometres away, to see the Alfred Bruyas collection in the Musee Fabre. Their conversations were intense, but the break seems to have been a success. On the morning after their return, Gauguin told Van Gogh that he 'felt his old self coming back'. (12) Gauguin then wrote to Theo on about 19 December, saying his earlier decision to return to Paris had been 'a bad dream' and he would remain in Aries. (13)

Throughout this difficult period, the two artists continued to be highly productive. Between 13 and 23 December Van Gogh painted seven pictures: portraits of Joseph Ginoux, Marie Ginoux (L'Arleienne), Augustine Roulin (La Berceuse), a man and a young man, a self-portrait and a dance hall. (14) Gauguin produced five works: portraits of an old man, a man (possibly Joseph Ginoux) and the artist's mother, a self-portrait and the public garden in Arles. (15)

But the tensions were not fully resolved. On 22 December, the day before the self-mutilation, Gauguin wrote to his artist friend Emile Schuffenecker (1851-1934): 'My situation here is difficult ... One day I will explain it all to you. In any case, I am staying here, but I remain poised to leave at any moment." (16)

Although much has been written about the deteriorating relations between Van Gogh and Gauguin, less attention has been paid to an equally important development in December 1888: the engagement of Theo van Gogh. Theo had fallen in love with Jo Bonger in July 1887, but she had then rejected his advances. They met again in Paris, on around 10 December 1888, and the relationship blossomed extremely quickly. They became engaged within a matter of days, at some point before 21 December. (17)

Van Gogh appears to have had ambivalent feelings about Theo's marriage, wishing happiness for his brother, but also fearing that he would lose his support. The key question is therefore when it was that Van Gogh heard about the engagement. It has been generally assumed that he did not learn of it until 2 January 1889, or possibly a day or two earlier, since on that date he wrote to Theo, saying 'I have read and reread your letter about your meeting the Bongers. (18) On 9 January he received formal letters about the engagement from both Theo and Jo. (19) It was assumed, therefore, that he learned of it only after his self-injury.