why did van gogh cut off his ear and who did he give it

Vincent van Gogh cut off his ear during a mental health crisis in late 1888, after a heated argument with Paul Gauguin and a period of emotional distress and instability. He then wrapped the severed ear and gave it to a woman at a brothel in Arles, most sources say a prostitute or maid there; later research suggests she may have been a woman named Gabrielle Berlatier, though the historical record is still debated.

What happened

• Van Gogh and Gauguin were living together in Arles.
• Their relationship had become tense.
• After the argument, van Gogh mutilated his ear during what one source describes as an “attack” or breakdown.

Who he gave it to

• The traditional account is that he gave the ear to a woman at a local brothel.

• A later report argues the recipient may have been Gabrielle Berlatier rather than an unnamed prostitute.

Why the story is complicated

There is no single fully settled explanation for the exact reason behind the act, and historians generally treat it as part of a broader psychiatric crisis rather than a simple, isolated gesture.

TL;DR: He cut off his ear during a breakdown after conflict with Gauguin, and he gave it to a woman at a brothel in Arles; the recipient is usually described as a prostitute, though some research names Gabrielle Berlatier.