Vincent van Gogh: Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear, oil on canvas by Vincent van Gogh, 1889; in the Courtauld Institute Art, London. (more) Why Did Vincent van Gogh Cut Off His Ear? Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Why-Did-Vincent-van-Gogh-Cut-Off-His-Ear Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 12, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot Vincent van Gogh is well known to have cut off a part of his own ear, but the circumstances of the incident are not fully understood. The event occurred on Christmas Eve in 1888, when van Gogh was living in Arles, in the south of France. He had been sharing a house with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, and their relationship was fraught with tension. The two artists had differing artistic philosophies and temperaments, which led to frequent quarrels. On that fateful night, after a heated argument with Gauguin, van Gogh, physically and emotionally exhausted, reportedly chased him with a razor ...(100 of 276 words)

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