MOMENTS IN TIME

The History Channel

• On Dec. 23, 1888, Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, suffering from severe depression, cuts off the lower part of his left ear with a razor while staying in Arles, France. He later documented the event in a painting titled “Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear.” During his lifetime, van Gogh sold only one painting.

• On Dec. 22, 1900, the first car to be produced under the “Mercedes” name is delivered to its buyer, Emil Jellinek, an Austrian car racer and auto dealer to the rich and famous. In exchange for buying 36 of the cars, the auto company agreed to name its new machine aft...