Why Van Gogh cut his ear: new clue
An envelope seen in a Van Gogh painting provides a clue that could help to explain why the artist cut his ear. The envelope, in Still Life: Drawing Board with Onions, 1889, is addressed to Vincent from his brother Theo. Up to now, no one has ever asked the question whether the artist was illustrating a specific letter.
The letter in the painting most likely arrived in Arles on 23 December 1888, the fateful day when Vincent mutilated his ear in the late evening. We can be almost certain that the letter contained news about Theo having fallen in love with Johanna (Jo) Bonger which would have made Vincent fearful of losing his brother’s emotional and financial support.
In the still-life, the handwriting on the envelope is undoubtedly Theo’s, and the letter is addressed to Vincent in Arles. Although the postmarks lack a legible date, one contains the number “67”, enclosed in a circle. This was used by the post office in Place des Abbesses, close to Theo’s Montmartre apartment. The postmark directly over the two postage stamps reads “Jour de l’An” (New Year’s Day). This was recognized by Dutch specialists working on the new edition of Van Gogh’s letters published in October. They concluded that the letter had been posted during “the busy period around New Year” and it had possibly arrived on 23 December, the date Vincent received his 100 francs financial allowance from Theo by post. The letter was probably posted the day before from Paris.
It is widely assumed that Vincent did not learn of Theo’s engagement until after he mutilated his ear, although research now suggests that news of the love affair reached him on 23 December. Theo and Jo had met (for a second time, after a long break) in Paris in mid-December and decided to marry just a few days later. On 21 December Theo wrote to his mother, asking for permission. His brother almost certainly would have been among the next to know.
It seems Vincent already knew of the engagement when Theo visited him in hospital on Christmas Day. In a recently published letter, Theo wrote to his fiancée about the brief hospital visit: “When I mentioned you to him he evidently knew who and what I meant and when I asked whether he approved of our plans, he said yes, but that marriage ought not to be regarded as the main object in life.”
On Christmas Day Vincent was suffering from a life-threatening wound and was in considerable mental distress, so it seems unlikely that Theo would have broken the news about his engagement. Although it was briefly discussed, it would seem Vincent already knew.
Still Life: Drawing Board with Onions was painted just a few days after Vincent returned to the Yellow House on 7 January 1889. News of the love affair could well have been a the cause of his self-mutilation, although there was probably no one simple explanation for the incident and there were also serious tensions with Gauguin. Vincent may have feared (wrongly) that he would lose the support of Theo. For years, Theo had provided money and friendship.
Vincent’s feelings must have been complex, and by January 1889 he may well have become reconciled to the engagement, following reassurances from his brother. The very fact that he included the envelope in the still-life suggests a message of hope.
Although it is a theory, the postmark on the envelope might represent a coded message that the strong links between the two brothers would survive. The Musée de La Poste in Paris told us that although “Jour de l’An” postmarks were widely used in the run-up to Christmas and New Year in the 1880s, most are fairly small marks, rather than the more prominent words inscribed by Van Gogh. This suggests that the personalised postmark may have been Vincent’s way of stressing to Theo that the letter depicted was a very particular one—and that he wished his brother well for the New Year.
More news
 |
After the success of Sotheby’s inaugural auction of Turkish Contemporary Art in March 2009, which realised a total of £1.3 million and attracted bidders and buyers from across the globe, Sotheby’s London announced that it will stage its second sale in this collecting category, on Thursday, 15 April, 2010. This auction will present new and existing collectors with the opportunity to acquire important pieces from this exciting and expanding area of the art market by both modern masters and contemporary artists of Turkish origin.
16 February '10
|
 |
Zurich's Kunsthaus museum will offer the first public glimpse of a Swiss art collection that has been under lock and key since thieves stole its most-prized painting in a $160 million heist two years ago.
16 February '10
|
 |
Banksy, the secretive British artist whose work has appeared on city streets around the world, said on Sunday he hoped his documentary film "Exit Through The Gift Shop" will raise the standing of urban art
16 February '10
|
 |
Between 1618 and 1621, two supposedly identical works entitled St Jerome with an Angel were produced in Van Dyck’s Antwerp studio; one painting now belongs to the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and the other is on long-term loan to the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Now after almost 40 years of debate, new research has finally answered the question as to which came first.
16 February '10
|
 |
After Paris, where it earned both public and critical acclaim, the exhibition "Tiffany Glass: A Passion for Colour" will be shown in Montreal from February 12 to May 2, 2010. It is the first exhibition of such quality on one of the most famous American designers, Louis C. Tiffany (1848-1933), to be presented in Canada. Developed and produced by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, it will highlight Tiffany’s outstanding contribution to the design and technology of glass, gave him an international reputation. In an exhibition space twice as large as the one in Paris, some 180 works have been brought together, including a series of magnificent large-scale ecclesiastical stained glass windows and secular stained glass, magnificent blown-glass vases and lamps with shapes and decoration inspired by nature, some examples of paintings and mosaics, as well as original designs from the Tiffany Studios and period photographs. The many prestigious institutions that have lent important works include the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Chrysler Museum of Art, the State Hermitage Museum, the Musée des arts décoratifs de Paris and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.
16 February '10
|
 |
A new book and an exhibition at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, will celebrate the work of Marcus Adams, who devoted 50 years to photographing children, particularly royal children. The son of the photographer Walton Adams, Marcus Adams created an exceptional record of two generations of the royal children between 1926 and 1956. He presented a new, relaxed image of royalty, overturning the long tradition of formal royal portraiture. Vintage prints from almost all the royal sittings are among the more than 150 photographs included in the book and the 56 shown in the exhibition, many from the personal collection of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Of his long relationship with the Royal Family, Marcus Adams said, ‘I have had more joy from that family than from any. They are full of fun.’
16 February '10
|
 |
The Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp (KMSKA), with financial support from the Getty Foundation, is carrying out in depth scientific research into its Rubens collection. Every year, selected interim findings are shown to the public as part of a series entitled 'Rubens Revealed'. The most recent research and publication offer an unprecedented insight into Rubens’s expert painting technique.
16 February '10
|
 |
The National Cowgirl Museum, Forth Worth, Texas, presents the never before seen Georgia O’Keeffe and the Faraway: Nature and Image exhibition. This will be shown in Fort Worth, Texas, from February 12th through to September 6th. The exhibition, a partnership between the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe will look at the relationship that artist and Crowned Cowgirl Hall of Fame Honoree, O’Keeffe, had with nature through her camping experiences and artifacts.
16 February '10
|
 |
Performance art is known for sometimes dealing with intimate acts. It is widely known that artist Andrea Fraser, for example, famously had sex with a collector who paid $20,000 to participate in a 60–minute, videotaped act. The newest idea recently however, is marriage as performance art. Brian Feldman, a performance art artist, says he plans to use one of humanity’s most personal, sacred bonds — marriage — as a vehicle for his latest piece.
16 February '10
|
 |
Turner prize nominees Jeremy Deller and Antony Gormley are just two of the artists and designers who have donated works to the first-ever art auction in aid of the Geoff Thomas Foundation, with the aim of raising funds to make life-changing drug therapies available to sufferers of blood cancers.
16 February '10
|
 |
It seems Actress Jennifer Aniston has had a great month. One can imagine she might have enjoyed hearing the numerous rumours currently in circulation about the collapse of former husband Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie relationship. And even better, she now gets to grace the cover of Architectural Digest, showing off her art collection.
16 February '10
|
 |
An Italian judge has demanded seizure of an ancient Greek statue from the J. Paul Getty Museum. This is the most recent news from a lengthy legal dispute over artworks which Italy says were looted from its territory.
16 February '10
|
 |
Mary, Queen of Scots, Lord Nelson, King Charles II, artist L.S. Lowry and new England captain Rio Ferdinand have been chosen as the faces of the National Portrait Gallery's most recent marketing campaign, launched on posters, ads and bus shelters from today, which highlights the hidden stories behind its portraits of well known Britons.
16 February '10
|
 |
Halcyon Gallery presents an exclusive exhibition of Bob Dylan’s first paintings on canvas as well as drawings and sketches made while on the road during the period of 1989 - 1992. These paintings are the grand finale of The Drawn Blank Series and tribute to his artistic progression: from drawings to works on paper and now finally to canvas. This exhibition provides a exclusive opportunity to see the first original masterpieces of a creative legend.
16 February '10
|
 |
A solution has been found to a story that began more than 80 years ago when the Guggenheim Museum announced it had resolved the ownership of a painting by Kazimir Malevich. The artist’s heirs claimed last summer that the painting had been illegally obtained in the museum. A joint statement issues by the parties declared “an amicable settlement,” though details of the resolution remain confidential.
16 February '10
|
 |
16 February '10
|
 |
Internationally renowned fashion designer Alexander McQueen has been found dead in his London apartment after committing suicide. A statement given by the company founded by the British design innovator, age 40, has confirmed his death, saying "at this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee's family."
16 February '10
|
 |
British artist Michael Landy is set to throw unwanted and unloved works of art in his Art Bin which opens this week at the South London Gallery.
16 February '10
|
