Van Gogh’s Brain Disturbed — Doctor (Press, 10 July 1985)

According to a report published on 10 July 1985, research from Dr Shahram Khoshbin at Harvard Medical School suggests that Vincent van Gogh's erratic behaviour and prolific output of paintings may have stemmed from a brain abnormality, specifically a disturbance in the temporal lobe. This area of the brain is involved in functions such as memory and hearing, and Dr Khoshbin believes that van Gogh’s symptoms, which included aggression and compulsive painting, could be linked to a recently identified condition known as interictal personality disorder associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch Impressionist artist, is infamous not only for his striking artwork but also for his tumultuous life, which included mental health struggles leading to his suicide in 1890. He is known to have painted intensively during the last years of his life, sometimes completing two masterpieces in a single day. Dr Khoshbin pointed out that van Gogh was an epileptic and that even though a significant proportion of epileptics have temporal lobe epilepsy, only a small fraction exhibit the associated personality disorder. The condition of interictal personality disorder encompasses several distinct traits: hypergraphia—excessive writing or artistic creation; hyper-religiosity—intense, often disproportionate religious fervour; intermittent aggressiveness; shifts in sexual behaviour; and viscosity, reflecting difficulty in concluding conversations or arguments. Van Gogh’s most productive period occurred between 1888 and 1889 while he was in Arles, France, during which he created around 200 oil paintings, over 100 drawings, and wrote numerous letters. Among his notable works from this time are the iconic sunflowers, fishing boats, and rural scenes. Dr Khoshbin emphasised the compulsive nature of van Gogh’s art production, describing it as a clear case of hypergraphia, illustrated by the sheer speed at which he was able to complete his paintings. Moreover, late in his life, van Gogh exhibited profound religious convictions, which led to a series of religious-themed artworks. The infamous incident of him cutting off his ear was interpreted by Dr Khoshbin as a manifestation of both his intense religious experiences and bouts of aggression, with van Gogh reportedly claiming that divine instruction led to his act of self-mutilation. Additionally, van Gogh's sexual orientation underwent noticeable changes, which were exemplified by his homosexual relationship with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, alongside his well-documented personal conflicts with him. Through this lens, Dr Khoshbin's insights provide a deeper understanding of how van Gogh's neurological condition may have influenced his life and art, framing the artist's struggles within the context of contemporary understandings of brain disorders.

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