What really happened to Van Gogh’s ear?

Vincent van Gogh severed a portion of his left ear with a razor in a fit of rage when his temper flared with Paul Gauguin, the artist with whom he had been working in Arles for some time.

Following that, he spent time in psychiatric hospitals, including one in Saint-Rémy. He was discharged and moved to the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-Sur-Oise, near Paris, where he was treated by homoeopathic doctor Paul Gachet.

His depression persisted, and on July 27, 1890, Van Gogh is thought to have shot himself in the chest with a revolver, dying two days later from his injuries.

Van Gogh suffered from mental illness, psychotic episodes, and delusions, and despite his concern for his mental stability, he frequently neglected his physical health, did not eat properly, and drank excessively.

Many people have argued about the nature of Van Gogh’s illness and its impact on his work, and many retrospective diagnoses have been proposed.

The consensus is that Van Gogh suffered from an episodic illness with periods of normal functioning. Regardless of the diagnosis, his condition was most likely exacerbated by malnutrition, overwork, insomnia, and alcohol.