What happened to Vincent van Gogh’s ear in Arles in December 1888?

On December 23, 1888, while living in Arles, Vincent van Gogh suffered a severe injury to his left ear following a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin.123

The traditional account states that after chasing Gauguin with a razor, van Gogh turned the blade on himself and severed a portion of his own ear. He reportedly wrapped the ear in paper and delivered it to a woman at a nearby brothel, instructing her to "guard this object carefully".1423

However, this narrative has been challenged by some art historians. Based on an examination of police records and correspondence, some researchers have proposed that Gauguin may have actually caused the injury during their altercation using a sword, and that the two artists subsequently agreed to a "pact of silence" to protect Gauguin by framing the event as self-mutilation.124

Regardless of the exact circumstances, the incident led to van Gogh’s hospitalization and the end of his collaboration with Gauguin.13