Summary of Ghost of Khartoum Chapter 4

This passage from a novel describes a meeting between Colonel Thomas Scoundrel and the famous artists Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Vincent van Gogh in Paris in 1884. Scoundrel, a retired American soldier, finds himself drawn into the world of these avant-garde artists as he experiences their unique personalities and art styles. The story highlights the contrast between Lautrec's sensuality and Van Gogh's emotional intensity, showcasing their approaches to art and life. The narrative also explores the artists' unconventional lifestyles and their encounters with the social norms of the time, culminating in a poignant conversation about melancholy and the darkness that permeates Van Gogh's artistic vision.