Paul Gauguin, The Midday Nap, 1894

Vincent van Gogh was a post-impressionist painter who was best known for the famous story that is taught in early elementary school art class. Throughout his painting career, he met and painted with interesting artists, including Paul Gauguin. Paul Gauguin was also a post-impressionist painter who specialized in simplified shapes and color harmonies. Gauguin was invited to stay with Van Gogh in Arles. When he arrived, the two artists started to paint vigorously together. They even painted portraits of each other and recreated each others paintings.

In recent years, German art historians claim that the old story of Van Gogh cutting off his own ear is false.  These historians claim that the true story never arose because the two, very close, painters kept a pact of silence. Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans claim that it was a violent sword attack executed against Van Gogh, not Gogh's madness that led him to his death. The old story claims that the artist cut off his own ear, wrapped in cloth, and then handed it to a prostitute the same night Gauguin fled from him after an unhappy visit. The German art historians claim that Gauguin exited Van Goghs house while carrying his fencing sword in hand. Gogh followed Gauguin  and tried to make things right after a recent fight they had which resulted in Gogh throwing a glass dining piece at him. As Gogh starts to approach Gauguin in a rapid pace, these historians claim that Gauguin turned and cut off his ear with his sword, in either a fit of rage, or in self defense. It is not known which story is true, but it is probably safe to say that the classical story most closely represents the actual situation.