À propos de l’œuvre
La Berceuse, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · January 1889 · Arles
The Lullaby, F505Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Augustine Roulin sits in front of flowery wallpaper, hands clenched around the rope of an invisible cradle; Van Gogh composes with La Berceuse a maternal image intended to soothe like a song.
Look at the work
The woman who rocks without showing the child
Madame Roulin occupies almost the entire height of the canvas. Her orange-yellow face stands out against a profusion of white, pink and turquoise flowers, drawn on a very dark green background.
Both hands hold a rope that comes out of the frame from below. The green dress, the turquoise skirt and the red armchair form large colored areas, bordered by blue-black contours.
The Metropolitan Museum retains one of five versions of The Lullaby. According to her notice, Augustine Roulin herself chose this painting, which Van Gogh intended to evoke both the musical lullaby and the woman operating the cradle.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
Issue 1996.435, current dimensions of 92.7 × 73.7 cm and references F505/JH1669 identify the Metropolitan Museum version.
An off-camera action
The rope is enough to make the swing of the cradle understood. The child remains invisible, which concentrates the image on the mother's protective gesture.
A figure surrounded by flowers
The wallpaper almost abolishes depth and transforms Augustine into a central, frontal presence, comparable to a modern icon.
Large colorful accords
Green, turquoise, red and orange do not follow a naturalistic light: their contrast produces the visual rhythm that Van Gogh wanted to make musical.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
For Van Gogh, The Lullaby had to go beyond the individual portrait and offer an image of consolation.
One of five versions
Van Gogh developed the composition between December 1888 and March 1889. The F505 version is the one kept at the Met.
In the center of a triptych
The artist imagined La Berceuse between two paintings of Sunflowers, like a maternal figure surrounded by large bouquets.
A consolation for sailors
He thought that hanging in a cabin, the image might remind sailors isolated at sea of their own lullaby.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
The copy should preserve the complex design of the wallpaper, the calm tension of the hands and the clear separation of the large green, red and turquoise areas.
- Augustine's orange-yellow face
- Hands gathered on the rope
- The white and pink flowers on the wallpaper
- The red armchair
- The inscription La Berceuse on the armrest
Work sheet
| Title | The Lullaby, F505 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | January 1889 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 92.7 × 73.7 cm |
| Inventory | Metropolitan Museum of Art 1996.435 · F505 · JH1669 |
| Conservation | Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A large maternal figure with deep colors
The vertical format is suitable for a living room, library or bedroom. Bottle green, turquoise, earth red and pale pink match walnut, brass and muted walls.
Frequently asked questions
Before ordering
Is this a canvas print?
No. Each reproduction is manually painted in oil on canvas. Brushstrokes and material variations belong to the final result.
How is the visual reference chosen?
The Metropolitan Museum's Open Access image measured 2,965 × 3,722 px; it was reduced to 2,383 × 3,000 px and converted into a real WebP.
Can I check the result before shipping?
Yes. Photographs of the finished painting are sent to you; you can request alterations before validating the shipment.
Are custom formats possible?
Yes. The format can be adapted to your wall while maintaining the proportions and balance of the original composition.
