Marcus Chen
On 23 December 1888, Vincent van Gogh, the Dutch painter renowned for his bold and intense artwork, cut off his left ear in an act of self-mutilation. This incident, one of the most famous moments in art history, has captured the curiosity of many, with various theories attempting to explain the reasons behind it. While the exact circumstances remain unknown, it is often linked to a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, with whom van Gogh had been working in Arles, France. Following the incident, van Gogh's mental health continued to deteriorate, and he eventually took his own life at the age of 37.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Vincent van Gogh |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Year of Incident | 1888 |
| Date of Incident | 23rd of December |
| Location of Incident | Arles, France |
| Residence | The 'Yellow House' |
| Ear | Left |
| Weapon | Razor |
| Recipient of Severed Ear | A prostitute named Rachel/Bernadette |
| Aftermath | Hospitalization, mental health deterioration |
| Outcome | Suicide by gunshot |
| Reason | Disputed, possibly self-mutilation, or a fight with Paul Gauguin |
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What You'll Learn
Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear in December 1888
On 23 December 1888, Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous artists of all time, cut off part of his own ear in a small house in Arles, France. Van Gogh, who was a Dutch painter, had moved to the 'Yellow House' in Arles in 1888 to paint. He had invited his friend and fellow painter, Paul Gauguin, to join him. Gauguin arrived in Arles in October 1888, and the two worked together for almost two months. However, tensions developed between the pair, and on the night of 23 December, Van Gogh and Gauguin had a heated argument. Van Gogh, who was suffering from severe depression and mental illness, threatened Gauguin with a knife before turning it on himself, cutting off the lower part of his left ear with a razor.
Following the incident, Van Gogh allegedly wrapped up his ear and gave it to a prostitute at a nearby brothel, telling her to "keep this object carefully". He was then admitted to a hospital in Arles. When he woke up, Van Gogh claimed to remember nothing of the previous night, insisting that the reason he mutilated his ear was "purely a personal matter". He also failed to understand the damage he had done to his friendship with Gauguin, whom he repeatedly asked for. After leaving the hospital, Van Gogh spent the next few weeks between the hospital and the Yellow House, tortured by hallucinations and delusions that he had been poisoned.
Van Gogh's neighbours in Arles launched a petition in February 1889 to have the erratic artist institutionalized and removed from the Yellow House. Upset by the petition, Van Gogh checked himself into a mental institution in Saint-Remy for a year. During his stay in Saint-Remy, he fluctuated between periods of madness and intense creativity, producing some of his best and most well-known works, including Starry Night and Irises.
Van Gogh's physical and mental health continued to deteriorate, and in May 1890, he moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, near Paris, where he continued to be plagued by despair and loneliness. On 27 July 1890, he allegedly shot himself and died two days later at the age of 37.
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He gave it to a prostitute in a brothel
On a December night in 1888, Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous artists of all time, cut off his left ear in a mysterious act of self-mutilation. The circumstances surrounding this incident are not exactly known, but it is believed that it occurred following a heated argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin at the "Yellow House" in Arles, France.
After this incident, Van Gogh allegedly packaged his severed ear and gave it to a prostitute in a nearby brothel. This act has been interpreted by some as an attempt to impress a woman he was infatuated with, although this narrative has been disputed. The recipient of the ear, initially believed to be a prostitute named "Rachel," was later found to be Bernadette, the cleaning lady of the brothel.
Van Gogh's mental health had been deteriorating prior to this event, and his illness became more apparent afterward, as he began to hallucinate and suffer attacks of unconsciousness. He was admitted to a hospital in Arles, where he spent his Christmas. In his letters, Van Gogh claimed to remember nothing of the night of the incident and insisted that the reason for his self-mutilation was "purely a personal matter."
The painter's friend Gauguin fled Arles and returned to Paris, never to see Van Gogh again. Van Gogh's physical and mental health continued to deteriorate, and he tragically took his own life the following year. The act of giving his severed ear to a prostitute in a brothel remains one of the most famous moments in art history, capturing the curiosity of many.
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He had a fight with his friend Paul Gauguin beforehand
On December 23, 1888, Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear with a razor in a small house in Arles, France, also known as the "Yellow House". This act of self-mutilation has become one of the most famous moments in art history. While the circumstances surrounding van Gogh's decision are not entirely clear, it is widely believed that he did so following a heated argument with his friend and fellow painter, Paul Gauguin.
Van Gogh and Gauguin had been working together in Arles, and Gauguin had been staying with van Gogh at the Yellow House. However, Gauguin planned to return to Paris, and this upset van Gogh greatly. Two days before Christmas, Gauguin announced his departure, and the two got into a furious row outside a brothel. Gauguin, a skilled fencer, allegedly drew his weapon and severed a portion of van Gogh's ear.
There are conflicting accounts of what happened next. Some sources claim that van Gogh packaged the severed ear and gave it to a prostitute inside the brothel. Others suggest that van Gogh himself brought the ear to the brothel and gave it to a woman named Rachel, who was actually the cleaning lady, Bernadette. This act has been interpreted by some historians as a "Christic posture", with van Gogh offering a piece of himself to the young woman.
After the incident, Gauguin left Arles and never saw van Gogh again. Van Gogh, meanwhile, was admitted to a hospital in Arles, where he claimed to remember nothing of the previous night. He insisted that the reason for cutting off his ear was "purely a personal matter". Van Gogh's mental health continued to deteriorate, and he spent the following weeks between the hospital and the Yellow House, suffering from hallucinations and delusions.
While the exact details of that fateful night may never be known, the story of van Gogh's self-mutilation and his tumultuous relationship with Gauguin has captured the curiosity of many, becoming an enduring part of the artist's legacy.
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Van Gogh claimed he couldn't remember the incident
On 23 December 1888, Vincent van Gogh, one of the most famous artists of all time, cut off his own ear in a mysterious act of self-mutilation. The exact circumstances of this incident are not known, but it is often believed to have followed a heated argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin at the Yellow House in Arles, France.
Van Gogh allegedly packaged the severed ear and gave it to a prostitute in a nearby brothel. He was then admitted to a hospital in Arles. When he woke up, he claimed to remember nothing of the previous night, insisting that the reason for his self-mutilation was "purely a personal matter". Van Gogh's failure to understand the damage done to his friendship with Gauguin led him to repeatedly ask for his friend.
Van Gogh's claim of amnesia regarding the incident adds to the mystery surrounding it. While he attributed his actions to personal reasons, the potential impact on his relationships seemed unclear to him. This suggests a level of confusion or denial about the events that transpired.
It is important to consider Van Gogh's mental state during this period. He had been experiencing episodes of poor mental health, hallucinations, and delusions. This may have contributed to his inability to recall the incident clearly or fully comprehend the consequences of his actions.
In 2009, a theory was proposed by two German academics suggesting that Gauguin, a talented fencer, accidentally sliced off a portion of Van Gogh's ear during their dispute. According to this theory, Van Gogh agreed to cover up the truth to protect his friend from legal repercussions. This alternative narrative provides a potential explanation for Van Gogh's claimed amnesia and his desire to downplay the incident.
While Van Gogh's exact motivations and recollections remain unknown, his claim of amnesia adds an intriguing layer to the infamous episode in art history.
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Historians dispute the popular belief that van Gogh cut off his own ear
It is a widely-held belief that the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh cut off his own ear. This incident has captured the curiosity of many, as much as his artwork of intense colour contrasts and bold paint strokes. However, historians dispute the popular belief that van Gogh cut off his entire ear, instead suggesting that he only cut off the lobe.
The incident occurred on the night of 23 December 1888, in Arles in the south of France, where van Gogh had been living and working with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The two artists had differing artistic philosophies and temperaments, which led to frequent quarrels. On that night, van Gogh and Gauguin got into a heated argument, after which van Gogh, alone in the Yellow House, used a razor to slice off a part of his left ear. Following this incident, van Gogh was admitted to a hospital in Arles.
There are various theories about why van Gogh cut off his ear. Some suggest that his consumption of absinthe, a potent alcoholic beverage, may have exacerbated the episode. Others speculate that it was an act of self-punishment or a desperate plea for help. It is also believed that the self-mutilation was a manifestation of a mental health crisis and emotional turmoil that van Gogh was experiencing at the time.
Art historian Bernadette Murphy, in her research, found an important clue at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam—a 1955 letter that referenced a diagram of van Gogh’s original wound, drawn by Félix Rey, the doctor who treated him. According to the letter, the diagram was in the possession of Irving Stone, author of the van Gogh biography, Lust for Life. Murphy eventually gained access to Stone’s personal papers and found the doctor’s drawing, which showed a clear incision across the base of the ear, indicating that van Gogh had cut off the entire ear, leaving only a sliver of the lobe.
Murphy also discovered that van Gogh had a closer connection to a woman named Gaby, who worked as a maid at the brothel he frequented and also at a cafe that he visited regularly. This contradicted the popular belief that van Gogh gave his severed ear to a prostitute named Rachel outside the brothel. Murphy's research sheds new light on the incident, challenging the previously accepted narrative and offering a more nuanced understanding of the events surrounding van Gogh's self-mutilation.
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Frequently asked questions
Vincent van Gogh.
The exact circumstances are not known. It is believed that van Gogh cut off his ear following a fight with fellow painter Paul Gauguin. There are also theories that suggest van Gogh wanted to impress a prostitute by offering her his ear.
Van Gogh wrapped his severed ear in newspaper or cloth and went to a brothel. He then gave his earlobe to a woman called Rachel, who fainted at the sight. Van Gogh spent the next few weeks between the hospital and his house, tortured by hallucinations and delusions that he had been poisoned.
No, he cut off part of his left ear.
