Vincent Van Gogh

Over the years, Van Gogh has been given the reputation of a 'tortured genius', someone who put out some of the most notable art of all time despite mental health struggles. With previous instances of self-harm, time in a mental institution, it isn't much of a surprise that Van Gogh's death was ultimately ruled a suicide. However, due to inconsistencies in the story, this might not be the case.

There are multiple theories about the truth surrounding Van Gogh's death, however, the most common assumption, suicide, may not be completely accurate. Vincent Van Gogh's brother had been financially supporting him for years, even throughout his stay at a mental hospital after the famous ear severing incident, when Van Gogh cut off his ear and gifted it to a prostitute. Throughout his stay, Van Gogh produced over 150 paintings in order to sell and repay his brother for the money he was given over the years.  Since his brother had planned on starting his own business, it is thought that Van Gogh killed himself to eliminate any further financial burden on his brother.

Before his death, Van Gogh was staying at an inn with his painting supplies, which he took with him on a walk to a field. When he returned, his painting supplies were missing, and he had a bullet wound in his abdomen 5 hours later. Neither the painting supplies or the gun were ever found. Van Gogh claimed to have shot himself, but the angle of the bullet wound did not support this statement.

The first theory about his death begins with the suicide claim. It didn't appear that Van Gogh had planned or initially intended to kill himself, as he left the inn with his painting supplies and without writing a suicide note. When he left the inn, witnesses claimed he went in the opposite direction of the field he said he went to, but since he was gone for 5 hours, it is still possible that he ended up in the field. Due to the bullet trajectory, experts say it is unlikely that his death was a suicide, but Van Gogh himself claimed the attempt to take his own life...why?

The other theory states that two teenage boys from the country who typically tease Van Gogh (weird hobby) shot him either intentionally or accidentally. At least one of the boys constantly carried a gun on him which could have possibly been the murder weapon, which was never actually found. However, the two boys and their father moved out of town shortly after Van Gogh's death, the boy who always had a gun in his holster reportedly did not while boarding the train with his family. Some think Van Gogh was trying to protect the identity of the boys or the person who truly killed him, but the ultimate cause of death still remains unsolved.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hrsdntds9kM