Vincent Van Gogh's Sink and Hydrotherapy Tub
When Vincent Van Gogh chased his roommate and friend Paul Gauguin down the street in Arles with a straight razor, and then cut off his own ear and gave it to a prostitute, the major of Arles had him involuntarily commited for a month's stay in a mental institution. The razor episode was in December 1889, the hospital stay was in March 1889.
|
A short time after his release, early May 1889, Vincent realized that he needed further help and voluntarily had himself commited to an asylum in Saint-Rémy de Provence, not far to the north-east of Arles, in southern France.
Here is a view out of the asylum toward the gardens.
He produced 150 paintings during his one-year stay in this hospital.
|
|
Mental health care was very primitive in those days, and featured "hydrotherapy".
The patient was physically restrained in a tub, held in place with a wooden panel around the neck, and doused with streams of cold water.
| A Sani-Flush blue border indicates a toilet that I've used. |
If you're not bored yet, you might be interested in (or at least tolerate):
