As is well-known, artist Vincent van Gogh admitted himself to the Saint Paul de Mausole Asylum at Saint-Rémy de Provence in 1889, a year after he famously cut off his own ear. Van Gogh painted a number of works during his time at the asylum including Starry Night.
What does not appear to be as well-known: the complete collection of Vincent van Gogh’s letters, a total of 874 letters, is available online. The letters were published originally in print in 2000 and consist primarily of communication between the artist and his family.
For AHP readers, I recommend the letters written during van Gogh’s later years – those written during his stay at the asylum (May 1889-May 1890) and those written in the year of his suicide when was staying with Dr. Paul Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise (1890).
For more information on Van Gogh’s stay at the asylum, the following selection of titles may be of assistance: