This past week a new theory and book about the death of Van Gogh made the media scene, with the alternate ending that Vincent did not commit suicide but was the victim of two teenaged boys who shot him by accident. The boys had been teasing Van Gogh all summer like teenagers can do if they encounter someone perceptive and unique, and the shooting was just the culmination of their young men behaving badly dynamic. Compassionate to the end, Van Gogh apparently covered for these youths and claimed to have shot himself, and with his troubled mental history the suicide wasn't challenged.
So if you also factor in the other alternate theory that Van Gogh didn't cut off his own earlobe and was covering up for Gaugin's lopping it off with a sword, the life of Vincent seems even more victimized. Not only did his wonderful talents go unrecognized throughout his 37 years, but he was physically abused by others. I'd prefer that he'd had the warped self-determination and righteous rage to have at least either mutilated his own ear or shot himself, but when you read his letters to his brother Theo and consider his deep longing to connect with others, it's not too far-fetched that he would protect those who had wronged him. Whatever the case, Van Gogh and his artwork continue to fascinate the world more than a century after his death -- no matter how that final moment happened to come about.
