With 1887 drawing to a close a characteristic ennui enveloped Van Gogh. The cold and dullness of winter had always depressed him, but now the financial strains, coupled with his own volatilty had brought his relationship with Theo to a low ebb. Excesses of alcohol and tobacco encouraged, by his Parisian lifestyle had also begun to take their toll on his health.

In the circumstances he felt obliged to uproot himself once again, which he did in the spring of 1888, moving to in Arles, in sunny Provence. In any event he had probably learned everything he could in Paris, so the time was right for a new leap of progress. Although he still had the benefit his monthly allowance from his brother, Vincent he was disappointed that no buyer could yet be found for any of his paintings.

In Arles he occupied a room at a cafe whilst he prepared the "Yellow House" which was to become his studio. Invigorated by the balmy weather of Southern France his output during this period was prodigious. Uncharacteristically he also met and made new friends, many of whom he would also persuade to serve as models for his prolific painting.

One such typical subject was the postman, Joseph Roulin, whose wife and children were also among his subjects.

At Van Gogh's invitation Gauguin joined him at his new home, arriving in late October. There followed some enjoyable and productive weeks as the friends painted in the outdoors around Arles, but as the poor winter weather set in, the confinement indoors of two such volatile personalities, accompanied by a decline in Van Gogh's mental state quickly found their relationship in tatters.

It was in this atmosphere that in late December Vincent, suffering a severe psychotic episode, perhaps due to the violent arguments between the two, famously cut off part of his left ear lobe. Bizarrely, he then presented the severed portion to a prostitute at a nearby brothel.

When later police discovered him collapsed at the Yellow House, Van Gogh was admitted to the local hospital, where he was to remain for some weeks.         next