A self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh with a bandaged ear Photo sourced from Wikimedia

Van Gogh’s Ear: Why Did Van Gogh Cut Off His Own Ear?


 

Vincent Van Gogh who was an artist, most people came to know of after his death was the author of more than 1000 paintings. He painted most of these paintings in the final few years of his life, and though he only sold one of his paintings in his life time, his paintings are among the most priced masterpieces. A few of them have been sold for quite a fortune and are among the most expensive paintings in art history. 

He was one of the most dedicated artists when it came his work and continued to paint even when he was in hospital. He could continue creating his art – and he would spend the days looking through the barred windows at the scenery below. It was here he completed his most famous work: ‘Starry Night’. His dedication though unnoticed during his life time, is currently among the greatest works. 

A self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh with a bandaged ear Photo sourced from Wikimedia

The artist had so many troubles prior to his death ranging from the his mental illness to losing one of his ears after a confrontation with his friend. Most people will have heard the story about van Gogh cutting off his ear – and while his ear was indeed cut, the details around have never been confirmed and the mystery around the cutting of the ear is unknown with different explanation popping up.  

The popular version of this story however is that van Gogh and his very close friend, Gauguin, were having a drink when the started quarreling after a disagreement over issues known to them . The argument got more and more heated until van Gogh with fury in his eyes threatened his friend with a razor. But instead of actually harming Gauguin, van Gogh sliced off part of his own ear – wrapping it in a cloth and later giving it to a prostitute in the bar where they were. 

Following this episode, the artist was hospitalized and eventually decided to enter into an asylum for long-term treatment. In the wake of the incident Gauguin left the Yellow House in Arles, where the two had been living, never to return, although he and Vincent remained in contact. The two never met after this incident though they communicated from time to time. The reason he might have decide so is still unknown. 

Some historians, however, think Gaugin was to blame. This story goes that Gaugin, an excellent fencer, cut van Gogh’s ear with his sword during a fight, and the two artists agreed to hush up the truth to escape the police.This historians base their claims on a variety of sources associated with the event, including police records, van Gogh’s own letters, and theories on the artist’s mental condition at the time.

Vincent van Gogh – Self portrait with bandaged ear with his smoking pipe in his mouth Photo sourced from Wikimedia

This theory also states that Gauguin and van Gogh were arguing over the prostitute Rachel and the best way to paint. When van Gogh became hysterical at Gauguin’s threatening to leave Arles, Gauguin brandished his fencing sword (he was an amateur fencer) and accidentally sliced off part of his friend’s ear. The two artists then hid the truth in their police statements, likely to protect Gauguin from prosecution.This theory also coincides with his death that he hid the the truth about those who shot him instead of the known theory that he shot himself. 

While it’s also popularly believed that van Gogh whole ear was cut off, it is actually likely he only severed a part of the ear lobe. Gabrielle Berlatier, a farmer’s daughter who lived north of Arles, France, received the severed ear in 1888, when she was working as a maid in a brothel.The woman was mentioned in Bernadette Murphy’s recent book Van Gogh’s Ear: The True Story, although her name was not printed because of her descendant’s wish to keep the information private.

The story about Van Gogh’s ear loss is still a mystery which even the best historians cannot give account off, the story surrounding the whole matter is often left to the two accounts one of self cutting the ear and another of his friend accidentally doing it.  However Van Gogh remains an icon from his works in the art world, though he never really felt that affection while he was alive.