of him. Van Gogh reacts by saying "It's me gone mad." That evening, in a local cafe, the two argue and Van Gogh throws a glass at Gauguin. December 23: Van Gogh awakes in the morning unable to recall the events of the previous evening except for a vague recollection of having offended Gauguin, for which he apologises. Van Gogh receives a letter from Theo in which he announces his engagement to Johanna Bonger. In the evening Van Gogh and Gauguin argue again. Van Gogh cuts off his left ear and takes it, wrapped in paper, to a local brothel where he gives the ear to a woman named Rachel, asking her to look after it for him. Gauguin spends the night in a local hotel. December 24: In the early morning Van Gogh is found by the local police, covered in blood and apparently lifeless. Gauguin arrives at the Yellow House to find a crowd outside and is promptly arrested for Van Gogh's murder. Gauguin and the local chief of police enter the house together and go up to Van Gogh's bedroom where Van Gogh responds to being touched and spoken to by Gauguin. Gauguin is released from custody and makes plans to leave Arles as soon as possible. Van Gogh is taken to the Old Hospital in Arles. December 25: Theo visits Vincent in hospital; that evening Theo and Gauguin leave for Paris. 1889 January 5: Theo goes to Amsterdam. January 8: Vincent leaves hospital. January 9: engagement party of Theo and Johanna Bonger in Amsterdam. January 14: Theo goes back to Paris. February 7: Vincent is again taken to hospital after a second mental breakdown. February 17: he leaves hospital again. February 18: citizens' petition against Van Gogh. February 26: he is confined to hospital on police orders. March 23–24: at the request of Theo Paul Signac visits Vincent in hospital. March 31: Theo departs for Amsterdam. April 18: Theo marries Johanna Bonger. May 8: Vincent admits himself to the asylum at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence; the only other option was to be transferred to an asylum elsewhere. early June: Gauguin and friends organize an exhibition of their works in the Café Volpini (Exposition des Peintures du Groupe impressioniste et synthétiste, faite dans le local de M. Volpini au Champ-de-Mars 1889); Vincent is invited to participate, but Theo thinks it is inappropriate. July 8: visit to Arles. July 15: last