Gauguin, Van Gogh

Self portraits by Van Gogh and Gauguin.
Gauguin and Van Gogh rented a place in Arles where they developed the ideas about authenticity and primitivism in art that ultimately drove Gauguin to the south seas where he lived and painted.  There he wrote the book, "My Life as a Savage."  It is pretty interesting reading.

Below are three paintings from Gauguin and four paintings from Van Gogh.

Van Gogh shared Gauguin's interest in saturated color and decorative shapes within the composition.
At this time in Europe Japanese decorative art was experiencing a great popularity.  If you compare some of the color harmonies and compositional devices in Van Gogh and Gauguin paintings with Shoji Screens, you can see definite influence.

 A link to a letter from Van Gogh to his brother regarding this landscape painting.
http://www.artquotes.net/masters/vangogh/vangogh_landscape.htm

A link to new information about the famous "cut off ear and prostitute incident."
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/entertainment/2009/may/Van-Gogh-or-Gauguin--Who-Really-Cut-off-the-Infamous-Ear-.html