Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear

Taken from: Courtauld Gallery

     Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is a realistic painting that is now located in The Courtauld Gallery which is in London. This painting was mentioned in the book Sunflowers in which Van Gogh painted himself a few weeks after with a bandage over his ear. This bandage was on his ear because he had cut a part of his ear off to show his love to Rachel. The purpose of him doing a self portrait is to show how important this event is to him. It was also because he thought it will help him get over his mental issues. The painting is like a mirroring image to him. Van Gogh is seem to be in his room with a coat and a hat.
     The painting in the back seems to bring Japanese culture into the painting. The action of Van Gogh cutting off his lobe can be linked to what is done in Japanese culture. In Japanese culture this is known as Shinju. This is basically cutting off a piece of your body part to show the love you have for someone else. This painting was created in 1889. The medium is Oil on Canvas. The main subject of this painting is Van Gogh after cutting off his own earlobe. The style and technique that is being used in long brush strokes. The long brush strokes can be seen in the hat area. The next technique Van Gogh used was expressionism. This is when a painting uses vivid colors to show emotions.