"Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" by Vincent van Gogh — History, Analysis & Where to See It

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear: Van Gogh's Most Haunting Self-Portrait

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is the most famous and emotionally charged of Vincent van Gogh's many self-portraits. Painted in January 1889, just weeks after the artist severed part of his own left ear during a mental breakdown in Arles, this small canvas confronts the viewer with a calm, direct gaze that belies the violent crisis the bandage conceals.

Now on display at the Courtauld Gallery in London, the painting has become one of the most iconic images in art history — a symbol of the tortured artist and the inseparable relationship between creative genius and mental suffering.

The Story Behind Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

The events that led to this painting are among the most dramatic in art history. On the evening of December 23, 1888, after weeks of mounting tension with Paul Gauguin at the Yellow House in Arles, Van Gogh suffered a severe mental breakdown. In a state of delirium, he severed part of his left ear with a razor — accounts differ on how much was removed, ranging from the lobe to most of the ear. He then wrapped the severed piece and delivered it to a woman at a nearby brothel.

Van Gogh was found unconscious and bleeding the next morning by police. He was hospitalized at the Hôtel-Dieu hospital in Arles, where he remained for two weeks. Gauguin left Arles immediately and never returned. The dream of the artists' colony in the south was over.

Remarkably, Van Gogh returned to painting almost as soon as he was discharged in early January 1889. One of the first works he produced was this self-portrait, painted in his studio at the Yellow House. He painted himself wearing a blue winter cap with a fur lining and a heavy green coat, with a white bandage covering his right ear and jaw. (The bandage appears on the right because Van Gogh painted from a mirror, reversing the image.)

Van Gogh painted two self-portraits with his bandaged ear during this period. The Courtauld version, with a Japanese print visible in the background, is the more famous. The other version (now in a private collection) shows a simpler background. Within months, Van Gogh would suffer another breakdown and voluntarily enter the asylum at Saint-Rémy, where he would paint Irises and The Starry Night.

Artistic Analysis: Technique & Style

Composure Amid Crisis

The most striking aspect of the painting is the contrast between its subject matter — a man who has just mutilated himself — and the calm, almost serene way it is rendered. Van Gogh's gaze is steady and direct, his expression composed. The brushwork is controlled and deliberate, not wild or frantic. This composure suggests that painting was genuinely therapeutic for Van Gogh, a way to reassert control and rationality in the aftermath of a terrifying loss of both.

Color Symbolism

The painting's color scheme is carefully organized around complementary contrasts. The green coat sits against the red-orange background, while the blue cap contrasts with subtle warm tones in the face. These complementary pairings create visual vibrancy and demonstrate that Van Gogh's sophisticated understanding of Post-Impressionist color theory remained fully intact despite his mental crisis.

The Japanese Print

Behind Van Gogh's head, a Japanese woodblock print is clearly visible on the studio wall. This is a specific, identifiable print — a landscape from the series Geishu Itsukushima by Sato Torakiyo. Its inclusion was deliberate: Japanese art represented Van Gogh's artistic ideals of simplicity, boldness, and harmony with nature. Even in his darkest moment, he positioned himself alongside the art that inspired him most.

The Mirror Reversal

Van Gogh painted from his reflection in a mirror, which is why the bandage appears over his right ear in the painting when it was actually his left ear that was injured. This mirror reversal is a standard feature of self-portraits, but in this case it carries additional poignancy: we see Van Gogh as he saw himself, confronting his own image in the mirror just days after the most traumatic event of his life.

Where to See Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is permanently displayed at the Courtauld Gallery in London, United Kingdom, located in Somerset House on the Strand. It is one of the highlights of the gallery's outstanding collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings.

The Courtauld Gallery is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. General admission is £12 (free for those under 18 and Courtauld students). The gallery is smaller and less crowded than major London museums, making it an excellent place for an intimate viewing experience.

If you use ArtScan at the Courtauld Gallery, you can identify Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and every other painting you encounter — getting instant artist information, historical context, and details about the techniques used, all in your preferred language.

Fun Facts About Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

• The bandage is on the wrong side. Because Van Gogh painted from a mirror, the bandage appears over his right ear, when in fact it was his left ear that was injured. This is a common feature of self-portraits but creates frequent confusion.
• Debate continues over how much ear was removed. For over a century, it was widely believed Van Gogh only cut off his earlobe. However, a 2009 study of Dr. Félix Rey's original medical notes revealed that he severed most of the external ear.
• He gave the ear to a woman named Rachel. After cutting his ear, Van Gogh wrapped the severed piece and delivered it to a woman at a local brothel. Her name was Gabrielle Berlatier, though she was known by the working name Rachel.
• Van Gogh painted it within weeks of the incident. The self-portrait was created in early January 1889, demonstrating Van Gogh's extraordinary resilience and his reliance on painting as a form of psychological recovery.
• A Japanese print is visible in the background. The print on the studio wall has been identified as a specific Japanese woodblock print. Van Gogh deliberately included it to signal his artistic allegiances even in this deeply personal work.
• It was the beginning of the end. The ear incident marked the start of a period of recurring mental breakdowns that would lead to Van Gogh's hospitalization, his stay at the Saint-Rémy asylum, and ultimately his death in July 1890.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear displayed?

The painting is at the Courtauld Gallery in Somerset House, London, United Kingdom.

Who painted Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear?

Vincent van Gogh painted Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear in January 1889, about two weeks after severing part of his left ear during a mental breakdown in Arles, France.

Why did Van Gogh cut off his ear?

The exact cause remains debated. The incident occurred on December 23, 1888, after weeks of escalating conflict with Paul Gauguin, who was staying with Van Gogh in Arles. Van Gogh was suffering from a severe mental crisis — likely involving epilepsy, bipolar disorder, or acute psychosis — and severed his ear in a state of delirium.

Why is the bandage on the right ear in the painting?

Van Gogh painted from his reflection in a mirror, which reverses left and right. His left ear was the one he injured, but in the mirror image (and thus in the painting), the bandage appears over the right ear.

How much of his ear did Van Gogh actually remove?

For many years, it was believed Van Gogh only cut off the earlobe. However, research published in 2009, based on the original notes of treating physician Dr. Félix Rey, revealed that Van Gogh severed nearly the entire external ear.

Are there other Van Gogh self-portraits with the bandaged ear?

Yes. Van Gogh painted two self-portraits during the bandaged period. The Courtauld version (with the Japanese print in the background) is the more famous. The other, simpler version is in a private collection.