Musea

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

Vincent van Gogh

1889

Scene

The painting shows the artist in three-quarter profile, wrapped in a heavy green overcoat and wearing a blue cap with black fur. A thick bandage covers his ear and runs under his chin. Behind him, an easel with a canvas stands on one side and a Japanese woodblock print hangs on the other.

Figures

Vincent van Gogh portrays himself shortly after leaving the hospital following a self-inflicted injury. He wears a fur cap and layers of clothing that allude to the harsh winter conditions and the need to protect his wound.

Symbolism

The easel and blank canvas suggest his intention to keep painting and his identity as a working artist. The Japanese print reflects his admiration for Japanese art, while the altered composition of the print creates a visual rhyme between a heron’s beak and the bandaged ear.

Craft

Van Gogh uses impasto, laying paint on thickly so that brush and knife marks remain visible. This builds a textured surface that carries emotional as well as visual weight.

Impact

The painting is widely reproduced and discussed, playing a central role in the modern image of van Gogh as a 'tortured genius.' It is regarded as a sophisticated work that fuses personal crisis, artistic ambition, and the influence of Japanese prints.

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