Dennis Spilchuk Poet Verse

Notes About The Poem

Van Gogh's Severed Ear

Van Gogh's Severed Ear

I leaf through memories like pages in my mind,
But I can’t find the one I’m searching for.
Like a distraught painter who’s much maligned,
I can’t find a reason to live anymore.

Inside my head, I scream for others to hear
When I look at the past in the present,
Because my heart didn’t bleed when I severed my ear,
Which begs the question, “Am I still living?”
                                 ***

Note:
   On the evening of December 23, 1888, Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890) had an argument with fellow painter Paul Gauguin (1848–1903), who at the time was sharing the use of van Gogh’s studio and accommodations in Arles, France. Gauguin, afraid for his life, departed from the house and sought accommodations elsewhere, whereas Vincent van Gogh followed him out of the house, threatening him with a razor, and then returned to the house, where he severed his own left ear with the razor. Because Van Gogh used mirrors for his self-portraits, the painting gives the appearance that it was the right ear that was severed.
   During the police investigation that followed, Van Gogh said he had very little recollection of the event. Information available reveals that it was a horrendous and traumatizing event for Vincent van Gogh and those involved. Van Gogh nearly died as a result of blood loss from the self-inflicted mutilation and suffered indescribable pain from infection and discomfort afterwards.

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Brian Sambourne October 1, 2021 at 8:17 PM Hello Dennis, Enjoyed your piece on van Gogh + the biographical information. I've read that when van Gogh held his brush horizontally between his teeth, drops of paint would seep into his mouth. The paint was lead based and could have contributed to his mental instability. Be well. Brian Brian Sambourne October 12, 2021 at 10:10 PM Yes, you are quite right - alcohol abuse from drinking absinthe. Certainly, there was malnutrition as Van Gogh worked outside much of the day, painting, neglecting food + drink. As you mention, Dennis, Van Gogh's creative genius in so many canvases is a given. Be well. Brian Dennis Spilchuk October 9, 2021 at 10:57 AM Thank you for commenting. Though we can never know for sure, there is a medical consensus that van Gogh may have suffered from mental illness problems since his youth, and may have escalated the problem with alcohol use (believed to be the cause of his epilepsy), malnutrition, and as you mentioned, the possibility of lead poisoning which has now been introduced as a cause for his depression and mood swings; however, one has to keep in mind that Vincent van Gogh was a very passionate and creative artist.

Maurice Rigoler July 20, 2021 at 12:13 PM I see you have done your research on this artist. Until recently it was believed van Gogh had cut only his ear lobe. Then evidence (written by a doctor who cared for van Gogh in Paris, I believe, indicated (with a drawing) showed that the artist had in fact cut off his ear. I've a long narrative on Van Gogh I wrote some years ago which I update as new research comes out about the life and art. I have visited his grave where his brother Theo is also buried. Appreciate your post. / Maurice Dennis Spilchuk July 24, 2021 at 8:12 AM There are many myths concerning Vincent van Gogh's mutilated ear (people do like to romanticize) but he was one great painter. Thank you for expressing your interest and comments.

L Milton Hankins April 24, 2021 at 10:18 AM Very interesting information, Dennis. I suspect most of us were not aware of the situation surrounding Van Gogh's behavior. Dennis Spilchuk April 26, 2021 at 7:32 AM Thank you for observations and comments.