Van Gogh's Mental Health Examined in Amsterdam Exhibition and Symposium

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam presents 'On the Verge of Insanity: Van Gogh and His Illness,' featuring around 60 paintings and documents that explore the artist's mental health. Highlights include the 1889 portrait of Dr. Felix Rey, who treated Van Gogh after he cut off his ear, and 'Tree Roots,' believed to be his last work before suicide. Documents on display include a petition from Arles residents demanding Van Gogh's removal or institutionalization, and a receipt for his treatment. A symposium in mid-September will bring together art historians and medical specialists to discuss possible diagnoses, such as bipolar disorder aggravated by absinthe, Ménière's disease, or porphyria. Bernadette Murphy's book 'Van Gogh's Ear' reveals new details about the ear-cutting incident, identifying the recipient as a barmaid named Rachel, not a prostitute, and showing the extent of the mutilation through an unpublished drawing by Dr. Rey.