Since the discovery in 2016 of a doodle made by Dr. Felix Rey ostensibly illustrating what portion of Van Gogh’s ear was removed, virtually every art critic, historian, and institution, including the Van Gogh Museum, now maintains that Vincent sliced off the entirety of his ear. If, like me, you “didn’t get the memo,” you still likely believe the pre-2016 version of reality in which he only cut off the lower portion.
After looking at the new evidence, which really is just a doodle, I was not convinced. So, I investigated whatever I could find, and I discovered not only period statements that only a portion was removed, but the sketches and etchings made by Dr. Gachet that explicitly depict the severed ear, as well as a lesser-known self-portrait by Van Gogh in which he painted the ear without bandages. I also explore the possibility that Gauguin had accidentally nicked his ear with the saber he was wearing at the time, given that he was an accomplished fencer.
Apparently, the world would prefer that Vincent cut off his entire ear, and while I don’t especially want to rain on their parade, it dehumanizes him to exaggerate his mental illness, and it denigrates his art to prop it up with what amounts to sophomoric sensationalism and malicious gossip. My video is a defense of the artist and his art against belittling caricatures and the superimposition of a veil of inflated insanity over his work.
~ Ends
Art & Crit by Eric Wayne 
Very interesting
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Wut
My whole life is a lie
But, I do like historical characters who have been unfairly maligned to be vindicated whenever possible. For example, Marie Antoinette never actually said “Let them eat cake.” That was a slander when it was first spread. That sort of thing.
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Thanks for the tip on Marie Antoinette. Yeah, I feel like the stories we are told are our compass, and if we are told lies and exaggerations then we can’t navigate correctly. Further, the truth is better and more liberating.
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