In 1888, a bizarre event occurred in the red light district of Provence, France. A foreigner arrived at a brothel, carrying a package containing a bloody piece of his own flesh. That man was Vincent van Gogh, the now renowned Dutch painter who created some of his most acclaimed masterpieces that year. But it was also the time he took a knife to his own ear, launching one of the biggest art world mysteries that still lingers today.
But now, through an incredible detective work by art sleuth Bernadette Murphy and broadcaster Jeremy Paxman, viewers can go on an extraordinary journey to uncover what really happened on that December night in France and why Van Gogh inflicted such an injury upon himself.
Murphy’s and Paxman’s documentary begins at Van Gogh’s home in south of France before heading to the museum named after him in Amsterdam. Along the way they uncover key evidence and attempt to reveal the identity of the girl whom he gave his ear too – a secret kept by her family for over 100 years.
The mystery around Van Gogh’s self-mutilation is something that has captivated audiences for centuries. The audience themselves can join this quest and search for answers with Murphy and Paxman by watching their documentary – an experience surely not to be missed!
