About the ear thing. According to the book Lust for Life (ISBN 0452262496) by Irving Stone, van Gogh had a very good reason for cutting of his ear. He had fallen in love with a sixteen year old prostitute. This girl had on several occations told the painter how much she loved his ears. In fact, if he was ever strapped for cash, she would be delighted to have one of them as payment for her services. And this is what happened, according to the book.