Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Van Gogh Cuts Ear, Kidney Transplant Milestone
On December 23, 1888, the famous painter Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear after a big fight with his friend Paul Gauguin.
This happened in France.
Later, he made famous paintings like Starry Night.
Also on this day in 1954, a doctor named Joseph Murray did the first successful kidney transplant in the USA.
This was a big deal in medicine.
In India, December 23 is called Kisan Diwas, a day to honor farmers.
It's the birthday of a leader who helped farmers a lot.
There are also other important events that happened on this day in history, like a poem being published and a general resigning from the army.
Vincent van Gogh cut off his left ear on December 23, 1888, after an argument with Paul Gauguin.
Van Gogh continued to create iconic works like Starry Night and Sunflowers despite his mental health struggles.
The first successful human kidney transplant was performed by Joseph Edward Murray in 1954.
Murray received the 1990 Nobel Prize for his work on organ transplantation.
Kisan Diwas, or National Farmer's Day, is celebrated on December 23 to honor Chaudhary Charan Singh, a leader who advocated for farmers.
- Who
- Vincent van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Joseph Edward Murray, Chaudhary Charan Singh
- What
- Van Gogh cut off his ear, first human kidney transplant, Kisan Diwas
- When
- December 23, 1888 (Van Gogh), 1954 (transplant), December 23 (Kisan Diwas)
- Where
- Arles, France (Van Gogh), Boston, USA (transplant), India (Kisan Diwas)
- Why
- Van Gogh's mental breakdown, medical advancement, honoring farmers' advocate
- Date of Van Gogh's Incident
- December 23, 1888
- Van Gogh's Age at Death
- 37
- First Kidney Transplant Year
- 1954
- Nobel Prize Year for Murray
- 1990
- Kisan Diwas Date
- December 23
- Chaudhary Charan Singh's Tenure
- 1979 to 1980