And hear I thought it was a full ear - A slice of history, Van Gogh's famous cut

This Day in History: Van Gogh Cuts off His Ear . December 23, 1888. Van Gogh mutilated his earlobe during a fit of dementia, while staying in Arles, France. The Dutch painter was sharing a house at the time with fellow painter Paul Gauguin. After working together for nearly two months, Van Gogh allegedly lashed out at Gauguin with a knife, before using it on himself. He is said to have given his earlobe to a prostitute who worked at a nearby brothel . Soon afterwards Van Gogh checked himself into a clinic where he painted some of his iconic art.
Vincent’s mental health continued to fluctuate. During one period of extreme confusion, he ate some of his oil paint, following which he was restricted to drawing for a while. Despite such relapses, however, Vincent was exceptionally productive at Saint-Rémy, where he completed around 150 paintings in the space of a year Including Starry, starry Night.