Van Gogh in his letters to his brother Theo he wrote about the debilitating "electric" disputes with one another. Gauguin also complained in his memoirs to "upset the mind" and "lack of logic" by Van Gogh. On the eve of the decisive argument drunken Vincent ran in a glass of fields, and the next evening there was a new skirmish, which ended in blood. It is believed that utterly exhausted abuse Gauguin came in the evening on Dec. 23, 1888 at home in the area of Lamartine, a distraught Van Gogh, left alone, cut off his earlobe with a razor, wrapped it in newspaper and went to a prostitute friend, who also demonstrated a strange trophy. The next morning he was visited by police and taken to an artist in hospital. His self-portrait with bandaged head, was known for not less than "Sunflowers" and "Starry Night in Arles."

According to the published version of this drama, that is a popular novel by Irving Stone's Lust for Life ", Van Gogh on Dec. 23 followed by Gauguin Arlyu, holding an open razor. Researchers from the University of Hamburg, Hans Kaufmann and Rita Vildegans, the authors of the book "Van Goghs Ohr, Paul Gauguin und der Pakt des Schweigens" ( "Ear of Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and a vow of silence") argue that Gauguin left Arles in fencing masks and gloves, and after the departure of Van Gogh asked to send them to him. Scientists emphasize that the letter of a word is not mentioned rapier, and she had to have it be: why else should he with gloves and a mask? This fact, coupled with enigmatic last sentence to the Van Gogh Gauguin, like "Once you say something, then I will be silent," allows researchers a new way to reconstruct the historic quarrel in Arles.

According to Kaufman and Vildegans, Gauguin, not just out of the yellow house on the Square Lamartine evening of 23 December: he left this haven is with things to spend the night in the hotel and the next morning to leave Arles. Under him, of course, was and foil (though why he had not picked up all my fencing equipment, they do not explain). Offended and angry, Van Gogh, rushed after the other, a quarrel broke out again, and Gauguin, trying to keep the Dutchman in the distance, took a rapier, and somehow reached out to his face and then if in a rage, or accidentally cut off his earlobe. Even a small wound at this point cause excessive bleeding (in this example, built half the intrigue of the novel by Agatha Christie, announced killing "). Fearing the consequences, Gauguin threw rapier in the Rhone. It is, of course, no one has to look, because Gauguin convinced everyone that unbalanced by "The Potato Eaters" and other masterpieces of the mutilated himself. Van Gogh is silent. However, consider Kaufman and Vildegans for him say his sketches, one of which is drawn ear, and a number written in the Latin word "ictus" ( "blow") used by swordsmen.

As a result, mutual vow of silence, which Gauguin kept because of the cowardice and selfishness, and Van Gogh - of the nobility, his contemporaries and the descendants of Dutch artist felt more foolish than he actually was. This is the main conclusion of Kaufmann and Vildegans. In the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam until their point of view is not shared, but feel worthy of study. In the end, in the biography of the artist remains of millions of white spots, the lion's share of arguments about his life's twists and turns based on circumstantial evidence: correspondence with his brother and the memories of his contemporaries do not give answers to many questions. One only diagnoses Van Gogh set not less than ten. Among them there and schizophrenia, and epilepsy, and manic-depressive psychosis, and Meniere's disease, and acute intermittent porphyria. In addition, his condition could affect absinthe containing lead paint and acquired syphilis in the brothels. In general, healthy man, Van Gogh was not exactly. Gauguin, by the way, too, and sorry that Kaufman and Vildegans not pay enough attention to how the dramatic act of Van Gogh's influence on Gauguin. Nepahanoe practically field for research and interpretations.

Julia Shtutin