Shabs Beigh: Van Gogh’s Ear
In 1887, Van Gogh lived and worked in Paris. There, he met two people that greatly influenced one of the most famous art-history incidents of all time — the night Van Gogh cut off his own ear, and delivered it to a friend.
Van Gogh was troubled. His artwork wasn’t popular at the time, and he was rejected by family, friends and strangers for being too eccentric and needy. His brother Theo was one of the few that supported him — he gave Van Gogh canvasses and paints, financed Van Gogh’s travels across Europe and put him in touch with Paul Gauguin. Gauguin was a famous artist at the time, and Van Gogh admired him greatly. So when Gauguin suggested that Gogh move further south to a sunnier area with fresh inspiration, Gogh took his advice. He envisioned a studio to share with other like-minded artists, where they could paint together and swap stories. He begged Gauguin to join him, and with Theo financing the idea Gauguin agreed.
Van Gogh had also recently met a woman in hospital in Paris, Gabrielle. When she recovered and moved back to Arles, Gogh followed her and set up his art studio near her, at the famous yellow house. Over the following weeks, it became clear that Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin had contrasting personalities. They constantly fought, and things started to deteriorate for Gogh. Theo announced that he was getting engaged, and Van Gogh feared that he would lose Theo’s financial support. Gogh and Gauguin continued to clash, which eventually culminated in Gogh throwing a shot glass full of absinthe at Gauguin. Gauguin moved out into a hotel, and that same night (December 23, 1888) Gogh took a razor and sliced off his ear, cutting a through an artery in the process.
He hid the wound under his hat and prepared to go out. He wrapped the severed ear in newspaper, and took it to Gabrielle at the brothel. Van Gogh grew up in a religious setting and was drawn to the underdogs of the world, in particular poor women. It’s thought that his offering to Gabrielle was an act of religious self-sacrifice.
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