Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889)
Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890)
Year | 1889
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
60 x 49 cm
Location
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
Painted in January 1889 in Arles, south of France, this work was created a week after Van Gogh left the hospital following a heated argument with Paul Gauguin. Upon his return, Van Gogh found Gauguin gone and with him, the dream of setting up a 'studio of the south' where like-minded artists could work side by side. Due to the use of a mirror, the bandage appears on his right ear despite the self-mutilation of his left ear. The fur cap, a recent purchase to secure his bandage and ward off the winter cold, reflects the harsh working conditions he faced, serving as powerful proof of Van Gogh’s determination to continue painting. The objects behind him—a newly begun canvas and a Japanese print—symbolize his determination and inspiration, while his powerful handling of color and brushwork declares his ambition as a painter.
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