Gauguin, by his self-serving invention of Van Gogh's self-mutilation, had put out the rumour of his "madness" which spread like wildfire. This had serious consequences for Van Gogh, apart from his emotional and physical wounds: After a petition of his neighbours in Arles, Vincent, now regarded as insane and constituting a potential public danger, was locked up at the hospital for three weeks in March 1889, and his Yellow House was officially closed. All this meant the abrupt end of his optimistic outlook of living together with Gauguin, of a future community of painters. It meant the end of his plans and hopes for a "Studio of the South" for which he had worked so long and with such enthusiasm, sacrificing all his energy and a lot of Theo's money.