Van Gogh's Bandaged Ear: Arles, Bullfights and the Geisha Clue

A severed ear, a geisha print, and a hidden crucifixion. Van Gogh’s most haunting self-portrait at the Courtauld asks questions few dare to answer. Travel from the Yellow House in Arles to the roar of the bullring to uncover why a razor, a brothel, and a woman named Rachel sit at the heart of this mystery. See how Japanese prints by Hiroshige and a specific geisha scene slip into the background for a reason, why an easel starts to look like a cross, and how Gauguin’s arrival lights the fuse. Then step inside the Courtauld Gallery painting to trace echoes of Rubens and Delacroix and the enduring pull of Mary Magdalene on Van Gogh’s imagination. The clues are all there; the meaning clicks into place only when you see how each piece fits. Watch to discover how Arles, bullfighting rituals, and a single room drenched in sunflowers illuminate the truth behind the bandage. Stay to rethink a painting you thought you knew. #VanGogh #Courtauld #Arles #Gauguin #ArtHistory #JapanesePrints #Bullfighting