Many scholars believe that Van Gogh was an absinthe alcoholic. Van Gogh knew the drink affected him, but he still chose to consume it. It was believed to have hallucinogenic effects. This may have contributed to his mental health struggles.

In a letter to his brother he wrote:
’“…the only thing to bring ease and distraction, in my case and other people’s too, is to stun oneself with a lot of drinking or heavy smoking.”

“Meanwhile you do understand that if alcohol has undoubtedly been one of the great causes of my madness, then it came on very slowly and will go away slowly too, assuming it does go, of course.”