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| Gauguin 'cut off Van Gogh's ear' | Gauguin 'cut off Van Gogh's ear' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Vincent van Gogh did not cut off his own ear but lost it in a fight with fellow artist Paul Gauguin in a row outside a brothel, it has been claimed. | Vincent van Gogh did not cut off his own ear but lost it in a fight with fellow artist Paul Gauguin in a row outside a brothel, it has been claimed. |
| It has long been accepted that the mentally ill Dutch painter cut off his own ear with a razor after the row in Arles, southern France, in 1888. | It has long been accepted that the mentally ill Dutch painter cut off his own ear with a razor after the row in Arles, southern France, in 1888. |
| But a new book, based on the original police investigation, claims Gauguin swiped Van Gogh's ear with a sword. | But a new book, based on the original police investigation, claims Gauguin swiped Van Gogh's ear with a sword. |
| The authors argue the official version of events contains inconsistencies. | The authors argue the official version of events contains inconsistencies. |
| Witness statements | Witness statements |
| The book, titled In Van Gogh's Ear: Paul Gauguin and the Pact of Silence, is the product of 10 years of research by German academics Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans. | The book, titled In Van Gogh's Ear: Paul Gauguin and the Pact of Silence, is the product of 10 years of research by German academics Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans. |
| They looked at witness accounts and letters sent by the two artists, concluding that the row ended with Gauguin - a keen fencer - cutting his friend's ear off. | They looked at witness accounts and letters sent by the two artists, concluding that the row ended with Gauguin - a keen fencer - cutting his friend's ear off. |
| Van Gogh then apparently wrapped it in cloth and handed it to a prostitute, called Rachel. | Van Gogh then apparently wrapped it in cloth and handed it to a prostitute, called Rachel. |
| Mr Kaufmann said it was not clear whether it was an accident or a deliberate attempt to injure Van Gogh, but afterwards both men agreed to tell the police the self-harm story to protect Gauguin. | Mr Kaufmann said it was not clear whether it was an accident or a deliberate attempt to injure Van Gogh, but afterwards both men agreed to tell the police the self-harm story to protect Gauguin. |
| He said the traditional version of events is based on contradictory and improbable evidence, and no independent witness statement exists. | He said the traditional version of events is based on contradictory and improbable evidence, and no independent witness statement exists. |
| "Gauguin was not present at the supposed self-mutilation," he told Le Figaro newspaper in France. | "Gauguin was not present at the supposed self-mutilation," he told Le Figaro newspaper in France. |
| "As for Van Gogh, he didn't confirm anything. Their behaviour afterwards and various suggestions by the protagonists indicate they were hiding the truth." | "As for Van Gogh, he didn't confirm anything. Their behaviour afterwards and various suggestions by the protagonists indicate they were hiding the truth." |
| Gauguin later moved to Tahiti, where he produced some of his most famous works. Van Gogh died in 1890 after shooting himself in the chest. | Gauguin later moved to Tahiti, where he produced some of his most famous works. Van Gogh died in 1890 after shooting himself in the chest. |
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| Did Van Gogh cut his own ear off? |