A blog post examines Van Gogh's lesser-known self-portrait, *Self-portrait with bandaged Ear and Pipe* (January 1889), held in a private collection and rarely exhibited—last lent outside Switzerland in 1990. The painting shows the artist clean-shaven, smoking a pipe, with a striking orange-red background, painted just weeks after he mutilated his ear following a row with Paul Gauguin. The post contrasts it with the more famous version in London's Courtauld Gallery, analyzing compositional details and the artist's psychological state.
This analysis matters because it brings overdue attention to a significant but overlooked Van Gogh work, highlighting how the artist deliberately confronted his trauma through self-portraiture. The painting's rarity—seldom seen publicly—makes this examination valuable for understanding Van Gogh's resilience and artistic process during a critical period. It also underscores the ongoing relevance of private collections in preserving and occasionally revealing masterpieces that shape art historical narratives.