There have been various theories over the years surrounding Van Gogh cutting off his ear. Two German historians theorized Gauguin sliced it with a sword after Van Gogh threw something at him, based on inconsistencies in official police reports. There are letters from both artists suggesting they kept quiet, perhaps, to keep Gauguin from going to jail.
There is book that suggests Van Gogh got upset when his brother Theo announced he was to wed, worrying Vincent that his benefactor might not provide for him anymore with a bride to take care of—combined with some other emotional triggers, the ear was cut off the same day Vincent found out (dates from letters seem to add up). There is a drawing by the doctor who did a drawing of the ear and it indicated the whole thing was sliced off, not just the lobe.
Art historian Bernadette Murphy talks about the artist Vincent van Gogh at an event in Morrison Library on Nov. 19, 2019. (Photos by Jami Smith for the UC Berkeley Library)It was either the lobe or the entire ear, gone.
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