Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last

Together

A large portion of this unique series of portraits, now scattered across museums and private collections worldwide, will be brought together this autumn for the first time in the exhibition Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last.

An extraordinary friendship

When Van Gogh arrived in Arles in 1888, he struggled to connect with the local population. In Joseph Roulin, however, he found a true kindred spirit. The postman with his imposing beard and blue uniform became both a beloved model and Van Gogh's closest friend in the southern French city. Van Gogh painted not only Joseph, but also his wife Augustine and their three children: seventeen-year-old Armand, eleven-year-old Camille, and baby Marcelle.

When Van Gogh suffered a severe mental crisis at the end of 1888, Joseph Roulin proved an indispensable support. He visited the artist daily in the hospital and faithfully kept Vincent's brother Theo informed through a series of letters that are now being exhibited together for the first time. These letters, alongside the portraits, form a unique reflection of this extraordinary friendship.

Context

The exhibition places the Roulin portraits within a broader art historical context by also showing works by Frans Hals, Rembrandt, and Adriaen van Ostade—artists whom Vincent studied intensively. Additionally, the exhibition features work by Paul Gauguin, who during his stay at the Yellow House in Arles himself painted several members of the Roulin family.