Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society The Truth About Vincent Van Gogh
Nov 11, 2025
Teio Meedendorp, a senior researcher at the Van Gogh Museum, dives deep into the complexities of Vincent van Gogh's life. He discusses Van Gogh's tumultuous mental health and relationships, including a poignant connection with a sex worker named Sien. Teio debunks myths surrounding iconic events, such as the infamous ear incident and the circumstances of Vincent's death. Their conversation sheds light on his conflicts with society and family, as well as the profound impact these experiences had on his art.
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Vincent Over Van Gogh
- Van Gogh often signed and promoted himself as "Vincent" because his Dutch surname was hard to pronounce internationally.
- Teio Meedendorp explains this shaped his public identity and how he wanted his work known.
Alcohol, Crises, And Creative Bursts
- Van Gogh's mental health and alcohol abuse interacted: abstinence could trigger psychosis while alcoholism worsened crises.
- Meedendorp stresses that episodes and hospital stays shaped his later intensive, work-focused periods.
Hand In Candle Then A Brothel Visit
- After a rejected love in England Van Gogh desperately burned his hand in a candle to get a woman's attention and then sought a prostitute the same evening.
- Meedendorp recounts this to illustrate Vincent's intense, self-harming reactions to rejection.
