Vincent van Gogh • At Eternity's Gate (Madness, Genius, & Tragedy: Part 4)
Vincent van Gogh is shot on July 27th, 1890.
Art historians and Vincent enthusiasts have wrestled with the details of that tragic day for over a century. Despite decades of conjecture, the question remains: suicide or homicide?
On this episode, we experience the tragedy from Theo’s shoes, then we explore the evidence for both prominent theories for what happened. I also present the facts that I believe point to the truth, facts which all the biographies and films seem to overlook.
And in the end, we celebrate the woman who made Vincent van Gogh the household name that he is today: Johanna van Gogh-Bonger.
Please find below, a companion gallery for the episode.
PHOTOS
THEO VAN GOGH
On the morning of July 28th, 1890, Theo van Gogh receives a letter from Dr. Gachet, while opening his Paris art gallery. The letter is hand-delivered by an artist named Anton Hirschig, who is also staying in the Ravoux Inn. The letter states ‘Vincent has wounded himself.’ Theo rushes to the scene on the first train out of Paris.
JOHANNA VAN GOGH-BONGER
One of the often overlooked heroes of this story: Johanna van Gogh-Bonger. She picked up the torch after the dual tragedies of Vincent & Theo, all while raising her one year old son, little Vincent.
Above is a photograph of Johanna, Anna (Vincent & Theo’s mother), and little Vincent (not so little anymore.) Vincent Jr. goes on to carry the torch after his mother, and founds the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. The single largest collection of Vincent’s work: https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en
Johanna, as depicted by her second husband, the artist, Johan Cohen. Johanna would often stay up into the night translating Vincent and Theo’s letters into English. All of the paintings and letters we have are largely thanks to her courageous effort.
DOCUMENTS & EVIDENCE
The funeral card which Theo sends to friends and family indicates Vincent’s funeral is to take place on July 30th, 1890. Note the line crossing through ‘l’Eglise de Auvers,’ indicating a last minute change of location.
It is theorized that when the Church of Auvers learned more about Vincent’s death, they denied a funeral service because it was rumored he had committed suicide. Theo scrambles for a new location, settling on a room nearby, where Vincent’s paintings and favorite flowers can decorate the space.
THE GUN
This corroded revolver was found by a farmer tilling his fields in 1960. It is believed by some to be the revolver Vincent used on July 27th, 1890 to shoot himself. There is no way to verify this theory, except to exhume Vincent and investigate the bullet.
In a tasteless display of morbid fetishism, this revolver sold for $182,000 at an auction in 2019. An article on that sale here: https://news.artnet.com/market/van-gogh-suicide-gun-sold-1579072
VINCENT'S FINAL MOMENTS
A posthumous portrait of Vincent by Dr. Gachet. At Vincent’s funeral, the artist, Emile Bernard mentions he was told by Dr. Gachet that when he reassured Vincent he would ‘save his life,’ that Vincent responded ‘then I will have to do it over again.’
Theo stayed with Vincent in his final moments, holding his hand, in steady embrace, as he crossed through eternity’s gate.
