This Day in History: <br />Van Gogh Cuts off His Ear .<br />December 23, 1888.<br />Van Gogh mutilated his earlobe<br />during a fit of dementia,<br />while staying in Arles, France.<br />The Dutch painter was sharing <br />a house at the time with <br />fellow painter Paul Gauguin.<br />After working together for <br />nearly two months, Van Gogh <br />allegedly lashed out at Gauguin with <br />a knife, before using it on himself.<br />He is said to have<br />given his earlobe to a<br />prostitute who worked<br />at a nearby brothel.<br />Van Gogh is said to have <br />checked himself into a mental <br />hospital in Saint-Remy, following <br />a brief hospitalization in Arles.<br />During this period, Van Gogh experienced<br />intense moments of creativity, painting some <br />of his most known works, such as 'The Starry Night.' .<br />Though he sold only one<br />painting during his lifetime,<br />Van Gogh's work now auctions<br />for prices in the tens of millions
