A man gazes outward, his face framed by a heavy bandage that wraps around his right cheek and under his chin. The bandage covers his ear, leaving only a small portion of the lobe visible, while the rest is hidden beneath both the cloth and the hat. He wears a thick green overcoat with a high collar and a large blue button, the texture of the garment rendered in broad, directional strokes of blue, green, and black.

Yellow and orange tones highlight the man's face, contrasting with the cooler blues and greens of his clothing and hat. Behind him, a wall painted in pale yellow serves as the backdrop, with a wooden structure resembling a fence or easel to the left. To the right of the figure, a blue-framed window or door with two vertical panes stands out against the yellow wall, its glass reflecting muted tones of blue and gray.

The brushwork throughout is energetic and visible, with thick, impasto strokes giving the surface a tactile quality and enhancing the sense of immediacy. The composition places the man's head and shoulders in the foreground, dominating the canvas and focusing attention on his intense expression and the details of his injury. A brightly colored print or poster hangs on the wall behind the man, featuring several small figures and a landscape with a mountain.

The left edge of the painting shows a wooden structure with pointed tops, painted in ochre and brown tones. Light falls most strongly on the left side of the man's face and the bandage, casting subtle shadows along his jaw and under his chin. The blue hat is painted with short, choppy strokes, while the black fur trim is rendered with thicker, more textured lines.

In the upper right corner, the edge of the blue window or door is roughly outlined, with visible brush marks and areas where the yellow wall shows through. Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear was painted by Vincent van Gogh in January 1889, during his stay in Arles.