Vincent Van Gogh was an admired artist, who was also a troubled and “tortured genius.” His artwork, Starry Night, Bedroom in Arles, and many others have earned him fame and recognition as one of the greatest artists of his time. But what many remember most about this artist is the story of his severed ear. Although his art is exemplary, his struggle with mental health and self-harm is admirable. His struggle was overlooked due to his incredible talent. He was successful as an art dealer, but as an artist, he had to prove himself with the headquarters of international art dealers, Gopil & Cie. During his lifetime, Van Gogh was the poster boy for the image of starving artist. His artwork was not recognized until much later in his career, which could have been a leading cause of his major depression and anxiety.1
Van Gogh, born in the Netherlands, decided to start his career in Paris in the 1880s, where many of the age’s great artists also resided. He believed he could get recognition for his pieces through his younger brother, Theo, who made his living as an art dealer. His brother introduced him to many artists, including Georges Seaurat, Camille Pisatto, and Paul Gauguin. Upon meeting these successful artists, Van Gogh was greatly inspired by their work and began creating his own artistic style, beginning in 1883. Later the same year, Van Gogh rented a small house in Arles, in the south of France. Paul Gauguin and Van Gogh became close friends and later roommates. They consistently bounced ideas off of each other and created a strong friendship.2
Like many friendships, theirs was rocky, and they found themselves drifting apart. Gauguin had moved on to a different artistic style and was exploring other ideas. Van Gogh at the time, had been reciprocating signs of depression and mental health issues, but at the time, these symptoms were considered normal. When Gauguin decided to explore other art spectrums, it involved moving out of the house he and Van Gogh shared. He broke the news to his roommate about his intentions, and this evidently this made Van Gogh go over the edge. He did not take the news lightly and both men began verbally arguing. Van Gogh had disappeared for a few hours and when he returned to confront Gauguin, he had a razor blade in hand threatening to hurt Gauguin.3
During the confrontation, however, Van Gogh was hesitant to hurt his friend and decided to turn the blade on himself and completely cut off his ear. Gauguin left him bleeding and alone. Van Gogh bandaged his head and began drowning himself in alcohol. During this episode, he walked out of his home and into the streets where he found a prostitute. The ear that he had severed off of himself had been neatly wrapped in a cloth; since Van Gogh was still heavily intoxicated, he decided to present this token to the prostitute. Patiently, she ran off and alerted the police about her encounter and they immediately rushed to his home.4
Shortly before Christmas Eve, Van Gogh was found by police in his bed, partially conscious and with major blood loss. Authorities rushed him to the hospital where he surprisingly recovered. Meanwhile, Gauguin was brought into questioning, but gave no testimony on the incident. It was believed that Van Gogh had suffered a severe mental breakdown long before he had severed his ear, but that this created a ripple effect that led to lunacy. The real reason behind the infamous Van Gogh ear-cutting may never be known; Gauguin had promised Van Gogh a pact of silence on the situation in letters that they supposedly exchanged. 5
After the incident, Van Gogh was admitted into a psychiatric facility in hopes of recovering mentally and physically. The dramatic change was not helpful for such a troubled artist, and in July of 1890, Vincent Van Gogh ended his life with a revolver. Before his suicide, however, he created a very iconic painting, Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear 1889. Van Gogh intended to persuade his doctors that he was perfectly able to continue working and creating art by creating this self portrait. He presented his piece, leaving a trail of wonder for his supporters as to why he included certain details in this particular piece, mainly because he continued to paint himself in the same yellow house he and Gauguin shared. Doctors overlooked these details and allowed Van Gogh to leave the facility.6
The epidemy of many artists like Van Gogh is often associated with mental instability, drug use, and alcohol abuse. Van Gogh had an array of medical issues that were tied back to his coping mechanisms (alcohol abuse), and as a result, many did not understand the struggles he faced and degraded him as a person while idolizing his artistic talent. As said before, the real reason behind his mutilated ear will be unclear, but his work and talent will continue to inspire and educate.
- Adam Gopnik, “Van Gogh’s Ear,” The New Yorker, Literature Resource Center (January 4, 2010): 48. ↵
- “Who Really Cut Off Van Gogh’s Ear?” Weekend All Things Considered, Literature Resource Center, (May 2010). ↵
- “Who Really Cut Off Van Gogh’s Ear?” Weekend All Things Considered, Literature Resource Center, (May 2010). ↵
- Belinda Thomson, “Comparing lives: issues of balance in biographical writing,” Literature Resource Center, French Politics, Culture and Society 24, no. 2 (2006): 60. ↵
- Tim Suermondt, “All the Answers.” Literature Resource Ceter, Prairie Schooner 85, no.3 (2011): 47. ↵
- Tim Suermondt, “All the Answers,” Literature Resource Center, Prairie Schooner 85, no. 3 (2011): 47. ↵
170 comments
Cassandra Sanchez
Van Gogh is an incredible artist who is praised for his amazing art but it is awful to read about the backstory of his art. I had heard the story of him cutting off his ear before but I had no idea that he’d been battling mental illness for as long as he did. I was also shocked to hear that mental illness was normal at the time so no one thought anything of his behavior until he couldn’t take it anymore and lashed out. To be able to create such amazing pieces of art even while he was at the lowest points of his life is really shocking to read about.
Javier Camacho
In Elementary school I clearly remember my art teacher telling my class about how much talent this artist had but she never told us how he ended his life, most likely because we were only elementary school students. But after reading this I see that he must have been carrying what felt like the weight of the world on his shoulders just so he could find his success in the art industry. We can all say that maybe had his friend and roommate not left the apartment they shared that he may have not spiraled downhill and could have possibly had more success with his amazing art. Again I will say that noticing changes in your close friends or loved ones behavior is so important to see because it can be the difference in them breaking down and spiraling out of control or being able to stop from going downhill.
Kimberly Parker
I had always held Vincent Van Gogh on a sort of high pedestal, due to all the struggles that he had gone through in his life, like his mental health and self-harm. I always knew that at the beginning of his career, people had over-looked him and just thought that he was crazy when in reality, he was suffering from mental problems and depression. And although I was very interested in his art, and paid a little more attention to his life than I had other artists, I never knew that he had died alone and traumatized by his own mind. This article was very well written, and it helped shed some more light on the more specific details of Vincent Van Gogh’s life, that people always overlook.
Yadira Chavez
I have always felt inspired by Van Gogh’s work. I myself am someone who uses art as my creative and emotional outlet, so reading this article is a bit depressing to say the least. It is known that many mental illnesses, often manic depression, affect artistic and creative people at a high rate. Perhaps if Van Gogh’s support system had been better, he would have gotten the help he needed. Additionally, mental health was not a well researched topic in his time either. So many people suffered without proper help in his era. I think that Van Gogh knew something was wrong, but didn’t know how to cope without indulging in alcohol. This story seems old and sad, but the reality is that in the present time, this still happens. Mental Illness is attached to so much stigma, it can take a lifetime for someone to find peace, if they find it at all. We really need to come together and realize that mental health is just as important as physical health.
Michael Lazcano
Mental health is a huge problem within the society we inhabit today, but back then there was practically no support what so ever for those struggling. You have to wonder if his depression and anxiety ever influenced his art and how Van Gogh painted, and whether his artwork would be any different had he gotten any help. Van Gogh suffered for what he loved to do, or at least what he though he was good at. The story telling of how the ordeal between Van Gogh and Gauguin could’ve went really presented me with a perspective I had not known or considered, prior to this the film “At Eternity’s Gate” gave me an image of what could have happened. Van Gogh can hopefully serve as an example of how we should do better to treat those with mental illness, this will allow us to become better at caring for them, and making sure they don’t hurt others or themselves.
Mariana Beltran
Wow! I had no prior knowledge of Van Gogh battle with mental health, nor was I aware that he ended his own life. It shocking to realize that back in the day mental illnesses were not taken as seriously as they are today. When I was younger I took an art class where I replicated the painting of Van Gogh’s bedroom using pastels. Now being aware of the breakdowns and hard times he spent in that bedroom will give me a new insight every time I look at that painting.
Addie Piatz
Before reading this Article I can honestly say I didn’t know how he died. I was always told that Van Gogh was crazy I had no idea that he was dealing with metal disorders. Van Gogh’s art is breathtakingly original and has so much meaning. One thing about his story that really surprised me was how his room mate just left him and how the doctors just over looked signs that should have kept him there. His life could have been so much different if those two major experiences didn’t happen.
Nadia Carrasco
Prior to reading this article I had no knowledge of Van Gogh, I had always recognized his name but did not know exactly who he was. From now reading this article I understand that he had so much talent but his mental illness hindered him to reach his full potential. Reading about his struggles really made me feel for this artist and his pain on the inside. I wish more people knew about the the other sides of Van Gogh and not of just his artistic talents.
Danniella Villarreal
I’ve heard of Van Gogh but never really read anything about him, he had so much talent but his mental illness just got in the way. I really feel for this artist and his struggling on the inside. People idolized his skills and yet overlooked his mental health which is devastating. This was a very interesting article to read.
Matthew Swaykus
Before this article, all that I had known about Van Gogh was how he died, alone and traumatized by his own mind. I somewhat recalled him cutting off his ear and having a close relation to his brother, but I never imagined such a dramatic episode occurring in Van Gogh’s life. The author did a good job painting on this canvas how the event probably went down considering all the signs of depression and mental illness Van Gogh possessed. The author’s case is very convincing.