Portrait of Joseph Roulin
1889 Museum of Modern Art
About this artwork
This is one of several portraits Van Gogh painted of Joseph Roulin, the chief postman in Arles, France, who became a close friend during the artist's stay. Roulin is depicted in his distinctive blue uniform against a decorative, swirling green background.
Did you know?
Vincent van Gogh found a profound connection with Joseph Roulin, the postman of Arles, painting him and his family multiple times. Van Gogh affectionately called Roulin 'the man with the beard' and saw in him a father figure, stating that despite their differences in social standing, they were 'like two old soldiers'. This deep personal bond is evident in the warmth and intensity conveyed in Roulin's portraits, which became a significant series in Van Gogh's Arles period.
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Portrait of Joseph Roulin
Vincent van Gogh, 1889
