À propos de l’œuvre
Joseph Roulin, par Vincent van Gogh
Vincent van Gogh · February -March 1889 · Arles
Portrait of the postman Joseph Roulin, F439Reproduction of oil painting on canvas
Joseph Roulin faces the viewer in his blue uniform, his beard in blonde curls standing out against a green background strewn with poppies, blueberries, daisies and roses.
Look at the work
A friend transformed into a floral figure
Roulin is represented at mid-bust, very frontal. The cap marked "POSTS" and the golden buttons identify his profession; the blue collar and shoulders form a stable base, while the light face and green eyes directly catch the eye.
Around the head, the flowers do not make up a realistic bouquet: they are distributed on the background like a decoration. Red poppies, blueberries, daisies and roses contrast with the large concentric curls of the beard.
F439 is one of three portraits of Roulin with a flowery background and the most spring-like: the precision of the small flowers responds to a faster and more fluid execution of the face and the uniform.
Composition, touch and color
Three observations specific to this painting
The Kroeller-Müller Museum places this painting among six successive portraits of the postman and recalls that Van Gogh painted around twenty paintings by the entire Roulin family.
Strict frontality
The look, nose, beard and visor are almost symmetrical. This stability gives the model a calm and monumental presence.
A calligraphic beard
The wicks are organized into gray, yellow and blue spirals, very different from the more precise treatment of small flowers.
A garden without depth
The green background works like wallpaper: flowers float around the face and transform the portrait into an emblem of friendship.
Documented benchmarks
Precisely identify the original work
KM 103.101 and references F439/JH1673 distinguish this flowery portrait of the Boston Roulin F432 and versions preserved at MoMA, Detroit, Winterthur and the Barnes Foundation.
A faithful companion
Roulin worked at Arles station and helped Van Gogh ship his paintings to Theo. Their relationship quickly went beyond just postal service.
Six portraits of Joseph
Van Gogh painted six portraits of the postman between August 1888 and spring 1889, including three versions decorated with flowers.
Four families of flowers
The museum identifies poppies, blueberries, daisies and roses, painted with more precision than the face and beard.
Your reproduction
What the painter must preserve
Reproduction must maintain the balance between strict frontality, the fluid material of the beard and the sharpness of the floral decoration, without making the face artificially symmetrical.
- The blue cap bearing the word "POSTS"
- Green eyes and frontal face
- Concentric beard curls
- Poppies and blueberries on the green background
- The two golden buttons of the uniform
Work sheet
| Title | Portrait of the postman Joseph Roulin, F439 |
|---|---|
| Artist | Vincent van Gogh (1853 -1890) |
| Date | February - March 1889 |
| Place of creation | Arles |
| Original technique | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 65 × 54 cm |
| Inventory | Kroeller-Müller Museum KM 103.101 · F439 · JH1673 |
| Conservation | Kroeller-Müller Museum, Otterlo |
| Your reproduction | Handmade oil painting on canvas |
From order to shipping
In your interior
A blue and green portrait animated by flowers
The vertical format brings a strong presence to a bookcase, office or entrance. Ultramarine blue, emerald green, poppy red and cream match blond wood, brass and light 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 official image of the Kroeller-Müller Museum measures 2,400 × 2,912 px and has been converted into a real 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.
