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Primary sourceLetter

Suicide Note (attributed)

Vincent van Gogh

A letter attributed to Van Gogh and addressed to his brother Theo, sometimes described as his final note; its authenticity is not firmly established.

Attributed as Van Gogh's own final written words to his brother, though authenticity is unverified.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This is a letter attributed to Vincent van Gogh, written to his brother Theo. It is listed among his works on Wikisource, but the record does not confirm that it is genuinely his final note.

Why it matters

The letter, as attributed, speaks about the bond between Vincent and Theo, who supported him financially and emotionally throughout his life. Letters like this one are central to how historians understand Van Gogh's relationships and state of mind, but this particular text's authenticity should be checked before use.

Look closer

  • What clues in the tone or content might help you decide if this is genuine?
  • Why might a document like this be uncertain in its origins?
  • What does the relationship between Vincent and Theo seem like, based on this text?

This letter is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Vincent van Gogh on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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