Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Pipe - Vincent van Gogh 1889

Which is the true story behind Van Gogh’s ear?

There are two versions of the story and both are possible, and indemonstrable. It is fascinating that involves two of the artists that are claimed to have strongly influenced modern painting.

Vincent lived in the “yellow house” in Arles, and invited Paul Gauguin to live there in October 1888. This is a proven fact.

The first and more well-known version tells us that the cohabitation of both hot-tempered geniuses was a failure. They had strong arguments and finally, Van Gogh attacked Gauguin with a razor. Later, he regretted this attack and cut his ear lobe to make amends with his guilty conscious (how much of the ear he cut is not known). It is said that he sent it to Gauguin, who thought Van Gogh was a definitely dangerous madman.

The other version is more cinematographic, and it is based on a research of the German academics Hans Kaufman and Rita Wildegans. The book is: Van Gogh’s ear: Paul Gauguin and the Pact of silence. It arrives to the conclusion that the arguments ended in a fight where Gauguin, an expert swordsman, cut off Vincent’s ear.

Presumably, later Van Gogh wrapped that ear in a cloth and gave it to a prostitute called Rachel. And when the time of hate and fury went away, Van Gogh did not want his friend to be arrested, so both agreed to tell the police the version of the self-harm to protect Gauguin.