"It was that Gauguin wot did it"

[LupusinaLlamasuit]

Honest guv, I am no self-harmer

We was arguing over a bird, see. And he whipped out his fencing gubbins.

But I went mad anyway and died soon after.
Signed, Vincent.

Do I get me cup of tea now?

As an erstwhile fencer I don't think that even keen fencers fenced with real swords in the 1880s on a regular basis.

And I'm pretty sure that even in Arles the gendarme may have taken steps to prevent drunken and disreputable artists walking around with swords.

Still, I guess they've got to find something new to write about the guy...

Oh no don't tell me that! I loved the idea of Van Gogh and Gauguin in a foppish rapier stand-off.

I dont see how you can cut off someones ear with a casual swipe anyway. The chances would be 10000 to 1 surely.
The thought of Gaugan attacking VG with a knife is really quite awful. Even if you cant stand Gaugins sex obsessed painting.

whole thing v. odd. Either way, fits the 'tortured artist' stereotype.

Van Gogh is solely responsible for the tortured artist stereotype! (and maybe a bit of Toulouse-Lautrec and absinthe.)