Art of the Day
A week of van Gogh self-portraits
Vincent van Gogh (1853 – 1890)
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
January, 1889
Oil on canvas
Courtauld Institute Galleries, London
Click on image for a larger view.
What is the full story of the “ear” incident?
The popular version of this story is that van Gogh chopped off his ear in anguish and offered it to a young woman who had turned down his romantic advances. This is not true.
On December 23, 1888 Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin, fellow artists and friends, had an arguement. During this, van Gogh reportedly threatened Gauguin with a knife.
Later that evening, van Gogh returned home where he lived and mutilated himself. Using an open razor, he sliced through his left ear, as shown in the diagram to the left. He lost the bottom part of his ear.
It’s amazing how much a person’s self image changes. He looks so different!!! Art is totally special…I think I’m getting the hang of it!
Nyz xo
I heard it was tinnitis…constant ringing in the ears.
i likey. (van gogh, not the ear
)
poor dude. fascinating guy though! I like your little ear slicing visual. Pretty icky.
I had always heard the “cut his ear off for love” story, so, this was pretty interesting and eye-opening. I like the visual but am curious as to whether he cut off the little blobby part at the bottom or the important noise scooping part on top?
Is an argument really something to lose an ear for..?
Or a boxing fight..? Tee hee hee.. My new hero is The Banana Bomber. 
As I walked into a store with a friend, a stranger said to my friend, “How many people a day tell you you look like Van Gogh?”
THis was bizarre on many levels. First, the friend doesn’t look like Van Gogh. Second, both Van Gogh and my friend practice self-mutilation. It’s a compulsion, like over-eating or drinking, and it’s a hard one to stop, apparently. My friend has researched this long and hard, and has extensively researched VanGogh’s penchant for self-mutilation.
So, it’s odd that someone said that.
What just_margie said already. LOL.
Also, I like the new banner. Sharp
I had already heard the argument story but didn’t know what was real. Now I do. Also, I didn’t know he only damaged his ear, not cut it clean off. We live and learn and I like this course very much.
Thanks, teach!
Thank you for this! I also LOVE YOUR BANNER!!
Your banner looks superb darling! Seriously!
Damn, that is some self-mutilation, eh?
I do really like Van Gogh’s work. Who ELSE could paint HAYSTACKS like they were spun of gold???
The Duchess
LOVE THE BANNER!
self-mutilation is such a sad thing. it’s scary – the places we go within ourselves.
I love your banner too, Swirly…
And I always wondered about the whole “ear” thing…it didn’t seem really possible to swiftly cut off one’s WHOLE ear, especially in anger.
It’s so sad that he (and others) feel that physical pain is the only bandage for emotional distress…
very nice entry
The version I heard was that Gauguin was the one he had feelings for?
i’ve heard the tinninitis story (interested me because sometimes i have that) and the love thing for a man and a woman version, but will replace all those with yours! simpler.
and great banner!!