Portrait of Postman Roulin
In February 1888 Van Gogh moved to Arles, in the south of France, and continued to paint landscapes and portraits. Between late July 1888 and April 1889, he painted at least six portraits of Joseph-Etienne Roulin (1841-1903), a postman in Arles. Here, the artist concentrated on Roulin's head, which he described in a letter as "somewhat like Socrates, hardly any nose at all, a high forehead, bald crown, little gray eyes, bright red chubby cheeks, a big pepper-and-salt beard, large eyes."
Credit: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Buhl Ford II
1888
Oil on canvas
25.6 x 19.9 x 0.7 in
1996.25
Image and text courtesy of Detroit Institute of Arts Gallery, 2022
Where you'll find this
Detroit Institute of Arts
Permanent collection