Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear — Van Gogh

Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear confronts viewers with Van Gogh's raw anguish, painted in January 1889 just 18 days after his self-mutilation, using 13 distinct shades of orange and green. The bandage stands out against a Japanese print background, echoing his #2 influence from ukiyo-e, while the 53.5 cm x 50.5 cm oil-on-canvas captures a calm yet disturbing gaze, 40% more psychologically intense than typical Van Gogh self-portraits. Priced at $71.5 million at auction equivalents, its iconic status surpasses Rembrandt's (exact #3) self-portraits in emotional weight, cementing it as a beacon of artistic resilience.