Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear
- Artist: Vincent van Gogh
- Date: 1889
- Medium: oil on canvas
- Museum: The Courtauld Gallery
- Collection record: The Courtauld Gallery website
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About this artwork
This is the "Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear" by Vincent van Gogh. Painted in January 1889, just a week after he left the hospital, the work shows a man still defiant in the face of personal tragedy. The ear is covered with a thick white bandage, yet the cap he wears holds it firmly against the chill of that winter season. The self‑portrait was created a few weeks after van Gogh’s dramatic self‑mutilation, an act that followed a heated argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin. Despite the pain, his brushwork is vigorous, his use of colour sharp and bold, underscoring his resolve to keep painting.
Behind him, the easel holds a canvas in progress, and a Japanese print lies on the table—an influence that would later permeate his style. The setting, harsh and stark, amplifies the tension between suffering and creativity. Van Gogh’s careful handling of light and shadow here declares a renewed ambition: even with a bandaged ear and a winter chill, he remains a relentless force in the art world. The oil on canvas delivers a texture that feels both intimate and powerful, a testament to his enduring artistic spirit.
See it in person
Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear hangs in The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House, London. Point your phone at any artwork there and audioguide.london plays a free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
