Van Gogh in

Auvers-sur-Oise

Vincent spent the final, highly productive months of his life in Auvers-sur-Oise, where he committed suicide.

Vincent moved to Auvers-sur-Oise on 20 May 1890. He had been discharged from the asylum in Saint-Rémy a few days earlier and had made plans to come and live closer to his brother, in or near Paris. In Auvers, Vincent would be able to see Theo often and live on his own under a medical doctor’s supervision. He rented a room in Auberge Ravoux and regularly went to see Dr Paul Gachet, who became a friend. Vincent was highly productive in Auvers; he often went out into the countryside to work in the open air and painted numerous impressive landscapes. He was in good spirits, and another mental breakdown did not appear to be on the horizon. Yet it was in Auvers that Vincent decided to end his life. On 27 July 1890, he shot himself in the chest in a field. He stumbled back to his inn, where he was cared for by the village doctor and Dr Gachet. Theo rushed to Auvers from Paris but there was nothing he could do. Vincent died two days later from his injuries with Theo by his side. He was buried in the cemetery at Auvers on 30 July.