Did vincent van gogh mail his ear

The infamous story of Vincent van Gogh's ear!

The myth that Vincent van Gogh cut off his own ear and then mailed it to his friend and fellow artist Paul Gauguin has been widely perpetuated, but it's actually a bit more complicated than that.

On December 23, 1888, Van Gogh had a heated argument with Gauguin, who was staying with him at his home in Arles. The argument ended with Van Gogh cutting off part of his left ear with a razor. He then wrapped the ear in a cloth and gave it to a woman at a local brothel, Rachel, who was a friend of his. There is no evidence to suggest that he mailed the ear to Gauguin.

The exact circumstances of the ear-cutting incident are still debated among art historians and scholars. Some theories suggest that Van Gogh was suffering from a mental breakdown or a psychotic episode, while others believe that the argument with Gauguin was the trigger for his actions.

It's worth noting that Van Gogh's mental health was a significant concern throughout his life, and he struggled with depression, anxiety, and episodes of psychosis. He was hospitalized several times for his mental health issues and eventually took his own life in 1890.

So, to summarize: Van Gogh did cut off his ear, but he didn't mail it to Gauguin. Instead, he gave it to a woman at a local brothel. The exact circumstances of the incident remain a topic of debate among art historians and scholars.