Van Gogh was agitated and tormented when Gauguin announced that he would be leaving the Yellow House and returning to Paris, shattering Van Gogh’s dream of sharing his studio. On the night of 23 December 1888 the two artists had a terrible argument during which, according to Gauguin, Van Gogh threatened him with a razor. Gauguin left the house, returning the following day to find police awaiting. Van Gogh had been found in a pool of blood, having severed part of his left ear and delivered it to a prostitute named Rachel at a local brothel.
After his return to the house in January, Van Gogh wrote to Gauguin apologising for the “incident”. He recognised that he was unwell but did not appear to realise the extent of his mental illness, believing that his symptoms were due to fever and poor physical health. He frequently wrote to his friends and brother Theo expressing his wish to recover.
In this self-portrait, Van Gogh’s controlled and considered brushstrokes contrast with an almost other-worldly luminous green background. His bandaged face and huddled figure create a feeling of tension in a disturbing reflection of his self-perception at the time.