Van Gogh and Lorca: Historical Moments of Crisis
The Crisis of Vincent van Gogh in Arles
Arles, a small and quiet town in the south of France, was far from peaceful in December 1888. The weather was windy and cold, and the atmosphere at the Yellow House did not feel like Christmas at all. This was the home of Vincent van Gogh, a 35-year-old Impressionist painter, and his roommate, Paul Gauguin.
The trouble started on the morning of December 23rd. Van Gogh discovered that Gauguin was planning to leave their shared project. Feeling desperate and fueled by alcohol, Van Gogh went to a bar and became intoxicated. When he returned home, he was furious and confronted Gauguin. The conflict was a mix of his mental health struggles and a deep fear of abandonment, especially regarding his brother, Theo.
The Incident and Medical Treatment
That night, after a heated argument, things took a drastic turn. In a state of crisis, Van Gogh took a razor and cut off his ear. Instead of seeking help, he gave the ear to a cleaning lady and later lost consciousness.
As the 40-year-old doctor who treated him, I witnessed a transitional phase in medicine; we were becoming more scientific, but we still relied on traditional, manual tools. Since Van Gogh was not wealthy, he was treated in a hospital that lacked sanitary conditions.
Eventually, Vincent realized he needed professional help for his mental health. Months later, he voluntarily entered a psychiatric center, hoping to find peace and recovery.
The Final Days of Federico García Lorca
On a sunny day, August 19, 1936, in Víznar, Granada, I was living with my cousin Federico in my small house in the countryside. The sun was intense. I was dressed in my floral print dress, loafers, and a big fedora. My cousin Federico had come to my house due to the conflict between Republicans and Nationalists. He was dressed as a typical Spanish gentleman in a linen suit. As was common in August in Granada, it was a very hot day, and there was a profound silence around the house, so Federico was writing behind the largest tree in my garden.
The Arrest and the Hidden Manuscripts
In less than two minutes, the silence broke as soldiers’ voices were heard near the house. Federico asked, “Did you hear that, or am I going crazy?” My cousin was right; soldiers in dark green uniforms, caps, and leather boots were inside the house. Federico did not have time to hide his work, so he grabbed my hands and placed the papers into my palms, saying, “Nobody can find these papers with my work.” I answered, “Don’t worry, nobody will find them until the war ends. Once the war finishes, I will publish them, and the whole world will know you.” At that moment, the soldiers entered the garden, and I hid Federico’s work while they arrested him.
Preserving the Legacy
The following days were terrifying; my village and all of Granada were full of spies. It was difficult to protect Federico’s work because I could not leave my house without risking a search. Finally, I decided to put the papers inside a box and buried them behind the big tree where my cousin had written them.
Three years later, the Spanish Civil War ended. It was time to retrieve the box and publish my cousin’s final work. I had imagined this moment since the day the soldiers took Federico. It was time to honor him. Before publishing the poems, I read them and could not forget the last line: “They killed the man, but they couldn’t bury the poetry.”