 The portrait was painted when Gauguin visited Van Gogh in Arles, France.Vincent had pleaded with Gauguin to come to Arles to start an art-colony.Gauguin eventually agreed after funding for the transportation and expenses was provided by Vincent's brother Theo Van Gogh; however Gauguin only stayed for two months as the two often quarreled and the famous incident where Van Gogh severed his left ear with a razor occurred after an argument with Gauguin.