The famous artist who cut off part of his own ear was Vincent van Gogh. This incident occurred on Christmas Eve in 1888, when van Gogh was living in Arles, France. After a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin, van Gogh, in a state of emotional and physical exhaustion and likely experiencing a mental health crisis, cut off part of his left ear. He then famously wrapped the severed ear in paper and delivered it to a woman at a nearby brothel. This act remains one of the most well-known and discussed events in art history, symbolizing van Gogh's intense inner turmoil despite his artistic genius.