[fernando]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

... However, in 2009 a new theory arose toward this mutilation which has become controversial, as new theories typically are. That the actual severing of the ear was done by Van Gogh's troublesome room mate, the artist Paul Gaugin.

German scholars Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans, in their 2009 book, "Van Goghs Ear: Paul Gaugin and the Pact of Silence".
In this, they propose, based on compelling evidence and remarkable historic forensics, that in the heated argument of the night of Dec. 23,1888 in the famed 'yellow house', Gaugin grabbed a bag and stormed off into the night.
As Arles in these areas, near the bordellos (frequented by him) it was a seamy place, and he took his trusted epee with him for defense.

The enraged Van Gogh soon followed, but wielding a straight razor, and allegedly moved toward Gaugin in a threatening manner. Instinctively Gaugin made several quick fencing moves, and in this blur, Van Gogh lost his left ear (or it seems most of it)....

On this subject, and if it is not yet written in the present pages, we may add that, while the the curators of the Van Gogh Museum continue to defend the thesis of self-mutilation, not giving much importance to the thesis of the two German historians, Kaufmann argues that, in his letters to his brother Theo, Van Gogh left clues like this: "Fortunately, Gauguin... is not yet armed with machine guns and other dangerous weapons of war."