Ban Moriyasu is a struggling artist and Moguro takes him to the wealthy Mr Narugane who commissions him to paint a van Gogh replica for his office. Narugane then sponsors Moriyasu to paint, but Moguro warns Ban that he must not lose his artistic integrity. However, Ban reluctantly agrees to copy a Gauguin painting rather than lose his sponsorship and Moguro condemns him to be like van Gogh. Ban severs his ear and spends the rest of his life painting self-portraits.
