Vincent van Gogh is known for his art around the world. But he may be most famous for one distinguishing feature: he was missing an ear. van Gogh was rumored to have cut off his left ear in a moment of uncontrolled rage. Yet some historians insist that this may not have been an act of self-injury at all. So, how did van Gogh end up losing his ear?
The Van Gogh & Gaugin Theory
It all has something to do with van Gogh’s close friend and fellow artist, Paul Gaugin. The two lived together. But their living together took a turn for the worse. Van Gogh was happy living in the French countryside, while Gaugin grew bored with the quiet lifestyle. He became restless and decided he wanted to return to Paris. Our poor Vincent, who was in love with Gaugin, didn’t take Gaugin leaving so well. The tale of how van Gogh lost his ear came down to a passionate act of self-harm following a fight between the two.
The Secret Truth
Some have challenged this version of the story. It is argued that van Gogh’s ear wasn’t a result of self-inflicted harm; instead, it is believed that Gaugin was more involved than it was initially made out to be. As van Gogh grew emotional, Gaugin pulled his weapon on van Gogh and sliced his ear off, though historians don’t believe that Gaugin meant to hurt his friend intentionally.
The Aftermath
Despite their fight, the two still thought of each other as dear friends. Perhaps van Gogh was willing to protect Gaugin from the consequences of his crime, even if it meant taking the blame for his ear. After Gaugin’s departure, Gaugin and van Gogh exchanged letters in which they discussed the incident. However, they made a “pact of silence,” vowing not to speak of the crime.