How Van Gogh Lost Part of His Ear

 

Vincent Van Gogh (1853 – 1890) is today best known for cutting his ear off to give to a prostitute. The story of Van Gogh’s ear is so popular that novels and a café have been named after it. This story has been perpetuated in popular media such as Irving Stone’s best-selling biographical novel about Van Gogh, Lust for Life (1934).

Unfortunately, there seems to be no evidence beyond these stories that Van Gogh ever cut off his own ear. Van Gogh did injure his ear in December 23, 1888 but did not slice off the entire ear. But just how the ear was injured is still shrouded in mystery. One of Van Gogh's most famous paintings is his "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" painted around one month after the injury.

The Paul Gauguin Theory

Many art historians believe that Van Gogh sliced off part of his own ear after a furious argument with fellow impoverished artist, Paul Gauguin. Van Gogh had hoped to start an artist colony in the yellow house in Arles he rented. The only artist who warmed up to this idea was Gauguin and only because he needed a roof over his head.

Gauguin was notorious for his infuriating and intensely selfish behavior. He must have been like a bucket of ice-cold water on Van Gogh's dreams. But despite their differences, Van Gogh still felt some loyalty to Gauguin. Historians Hans Kaufmann and Rita Wildegans argue that Gauguin accidentally sliced off part of Van Gogh's ear with his fencing sword during one of their numerous arguments. Van Gogh then told the police that he cut his own ear in order to protect Gauguin. He may also have been protecting himself, since he may have physically attacked Gauguin, which caused him to reach for his sword in the first place.

The Vincent Van Gogh Theory

Other art historians claim that Van Gogh cut off part of his own ear with a razor not hoping to impress his favorite prostitute but in a strange revenge on Gauguin. Historians tend to agree that the two did argue violently on December 23, 1888. Gauguin decided to leave Van Gogh but a dejected and possibly jealous Van Gogh wanted him to stay.

Van Gogh may have cut off part of his ear so he could blackmail Gauguin into staying. Van Gogh could blame the injury on Gauguin in order to get him arrested. Van Gogh apparently had second thoughts and told everyone he'd injured himself. Whatever the reason, Van Gogh had just over a year to live before dying of a gunshot wound.