In Van Gogh’s Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear (1889), he depicts himself in three-quarter profile with closed coat, fur cap, and bandaged ear. This painting is a good example of how his illnesses dictated what he painted. After cutting off his ear, he painted this picture, depicting an open window for fresh air and bandage probably soaked in camphor, to communicate that he is able to care for himself and does not need to be taken to an asylum. He used his art to convey his inner thoughts and emotions and as a post-impressionist, he made sure to capture all of his memories and emotions in each painting. Van Gogh had an eccentric personality, multiple moods and suffered from recurrent psychotic episodes, in which those affected experience altered thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors (Tsuang). Both use their paintings to alter their present states and create an alternate reality that challenges their…