Posted on 12/23/2022 4:51:40 AM PST by Magnatron
Vincent van Gogh, the brilliant but troubled Dutch impressionist painter, severed his left ear after a "blazing row" with fellow artist Paul Gaugin in Arles, France, on this day in history, Dec. 23, 1888.
The 35-year-old artist famously presented the bloody ear lobe to a female acquaintance outside a brothel. She passed out from shock.
The incident underscored a tragic descent into madness punctuated by stunning displays of productivity and genius in van Gogh's final months on Earth.
"Although he sold only one painting during his lifetime, Van Gogh is now one of the most popular artists of all time," the Art Story Foundation writes in its biography of the painter, calling him an "iconic, tortured artist."
Van Gogh died of a gunshot wound to the chest, reportedly self-inflicted, on July 29, 1890.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Walter Sobchak’s favorite.
Vic Vega (Mr. Blonde) might fight him for it, though.
They said he was insane for saying that someday his paintings would sell for several millions of dollars.
From what I’ve read he didn’t cut off the entire each, but part of the ear lobe.
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