{"product_id":"portrait-of-joseph-roulin-vincent-van-gogh-2","title":"Portrait of Joseph Roulin - Vincent van Gogh","description":"\u003cp\u003eA striking 1888 portrait of Joseph Roulin, a postman and close friend of Vincent van Gogh, captured in his official uniform with bold, expressive brushwork.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePainted in Arles in 1888, this portrait depicts Joseph Roulin, a postman who became a close friend and supporter of Vincent van Gogh during his time in the south of France. Van Gogh produced several versions of this subject, reflecting his interest in the character and appearance of the local working class. The sitter is presented in his official uniform, complete with the cap bearing the word 'POSTES'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is direct and frontal, placing the subject against a flat, light blue background. Van Gogh employs his characteristic brushwork, using thick, rhythmic strokes to define the contours of the face and the voluminous, bushy beard. The colour palette is deliberate, contrasting the dark, sombre tones of the uniform with the lighter, warmer hues of the skin and the bright blue of the backdrop. This approach creates a sense of presence and psychological weight, focusing on the individual rather than the surrounding environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVan Gogh admired Roulin for his socialist ideals and his steady, reliable nature. In his correspondence, the artist often described the postman as a man of great integrity, comparing his appearance to that of Socrates. This work captures that sense of dignity and resilience. The application of paint is energetic, yet controlled, demonstrating the artist's ability to balance observation with his own expressive style. The portrait remains a clear example of how Van Gogh used his subjects to explore human emotion and character through colour and form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/field-with-young-trees-in-the-foreground-piet-mondrian\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eField with Young Trees in the Foreground - Piet Mondrian — Piet Mondrian\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/les-amours-de-pierre-ronsard-les-amours-de-marie-emile-bernard\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eLes Amours de Pierre Ronsard: Les Amours De Marie - Émile Bernard — Émile Bernard\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vincent van Gogh","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58833515577679,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58833764221263,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58833764254031,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58833764286799,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58833764319567,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Portrait-of-Joseph-Roulin_Poster_CompositorV1_1789930964179.jpg?v=1789932574","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/portrait-of-joseph-roulin-vincent-van-gogh-2","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}