Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago

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What led to Vincent van Gogh's breakdown in December 1888? What role did Paul Gauguin play in Vincent's mental health crisis? And just how much of his ear did Vincent cut off? Join Alastair and James as Stories of Art transforms into a true crime podcast and delivers a blow-by-blow account of one of the most infamous events in the history of art.

Follow Stories of Art on Instagram: @storiesofart.heni

Artworks in this episode:
Paul Gauguin, Vincent van Gogh Painting Sunflowers, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Vincent van Gogh, Self-portrait dedicated to Paul Gauguin, 1888, Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Harvard
Vincent van Gogh, The Yellow House, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Vincent van Gogh, The Bedroom, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Paul Gauguin, Portrait of Mette Gauguin, 1877, Courtauld Institute of Art, London
Paul Gauguin, Vision after the Sermon (Jacob Wrestling with the Angel), 1888, Scottish National Gallery, Edinburgh
Vincent van Gogh, Sunflowers, 1888, The National Gallery, London
Vincent van Gogh, Van Gogh's Chair, 1888, The National Gallery, London
Vincent van Gogh, Gauguin's Chair, 1888, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

For more great art content visit heni.com or visit the Heni Talks YouTube channel: youtube.com/@HENITalks