À propos de l’œuvre
Portrait de Joseph Roulin, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · Early August 1888 · Arles
The Postman Joseph Roulin, F432Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Joseph Roulin poses in a blue postman's uniform, sitting face down in front of a light background; his powerful hands and direct gaze give the portrait a calm dignity.
Look at the work
The first major portrait of the Arles postman
Roulin worked in the postal service at Arles station and became one of Van Gogh's most loyal friends. In this first seated full-length portrait, his blue jacket, gold buttons, braid and cap bearing the word "POSTS" make his profession immediately recognizable.
The figure fills almost the entire height of the canvas. One hand rests on the green table and the other on the thigh, creating a stable base under the imposing beard. The pale blue background, treated without decoration, focuses attention on the face, the uniform and the frankness of the pose.
Van Gogh does not seek a worldly resemblance: he constructs the image of a solid man, close and respected, through large flat areas and visible contours.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
This F432 version is that of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and not one of Roulin's portraits kept at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
A frontal pose
The torso and the gaze face the viewer. The position of the arms and hands widens the silhouette and reinforces its calm.
The Postal Uniform
The deep blue is punctuated by the buttons, braid and letters of the cap. These yellow accents structure the great mass of the jacket.
A background without anecdote
The light blue space describes no interiors. It detaches the beard, face and uniform like in an iconic image.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
References F432/JH1522 identify the first seated portrait of Joseph Roulin, now housed at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Joseph-Etienne Roulin
A postal worker at Arles station, Roulin supported Van Gogh during his difficult times and then maintained correspondence with him.
The Roulin family
Van Gogh painted Joseph, his wife Augustine and their three children, sometimes in several versions, forming one of his most important portrait sets.
Boston
This large seated version belongs to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; its composition distinguishes it from bust portraits preserved elsewhere.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
Reproduction must maintain the plumbness of the figure, the depth of the blue and the small signs of the uniform while retaining the material of the face and beard.
- The cap marked "POSTS"
- The golden buttons and braids of the uniform
- The beard divided into colored locks
- Both hands placed at different heights
- The contrast of deep blue with pale blue background
Work sheet
| Title | The Postman Joseph Roulin, F432 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | Early August 1888 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 81.3 × 65.4 cm |
| Inventory | Museum of Fine Arts Boston · F432 · JH1522 |
| Conservation | Museum of Fine Arts, Boston |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A monumental, frank and deeply blue portrait
The vertical format brings a strong human presence to a living room, library or office. The blues match the cream walls, warm woods and touches of brass.
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 public domain reference image was reduced to 2284 × 3000 px and then converted to WebP, without artificial enlargement.
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.
