15. Van Gogh removes his ear
National Gallery of Art
Regarded as one of the greatest painters of the 1800s, Vincent Van Gogh was also disabled and chronically ill. Some claim it was his illness that contributed to this extraordinary moment in history. The story behind why Van Gogh cut his ear off varies. Some say it was in a grueling dispute with a lover, while others believe it was after a tift with a good friend and colleague. After removing the ear, it’s rumored he gave it to a prostitute. Shortly after, he was hospitalized. His mental illness and his temporal lobe disorder continued to plague him until he took his own life.
