Joseph Roulin (1841-1903)
Joseph Roulin was born on 4 April 1841 in Lambesc, which is in the south of France about 60 km east from Arles. He married Augustine on 31 August 1868. Together they head four children: Armand, Camille, Marcelle, and Cornélie.
In the summer of 1888 Joseph Roulin was working as a postman at Arles railway station. His official job title was brigadier-chargeur, which meant he was responsible for loading and unloading the post that was transported by train.
A few months before, Vincent van Gogh had moved to Arles. He regularly sent paintings to his brother Theo in Paris. It is likely that this is how he got to know Joseph Roulin there, or in the Café de la Gare near the station.
The two men often met at the café and soon became friends. Roulin had a striking appearance with his large beard and uniform adorned with gold-coloured buttons. Joseph first posed for Vincent on the day his daughter Marcelle was born. Vincent painted his portrait six times.
Vincent van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo about Joseph:
‘Now I’m working with another model, a postman in a blue uniform with gold trimmings, a big, bearded face, very Socratic. A raging republican, like père Tanguy. A more interesting man than many people.’
Joseph Roulin became a particularly good loyal and supportive friend to Vincent just before Christmas 1888. Things weren’t going well for Vincent. He was tired and tense. After a big argument with the artist Paul Gauguin, Vincent got so upset that he cut off his left ear and was taken to hospital. Joseph visited him as often as he could and kept in touch with Theo, Vincent’s brother.
In January 1889, Joseph was beig transferred to Marseille. Augustine and the children temporarily moved in with her mother in Lambesc. Van Gogh wrote about this on 17 January 1889:
‘Roulin’s going to leave, and as early as the 21st, he’s going to be employed in Marseille. The increase in salary is minimal, and he’ll have to leave his wife and his children for a while, who won’t be able to follow him until much later because the expenses of a whole family would be heavier in Marseille.’
Joseph retired from the postal service at the age of 55 and then worked as a metalworker. He died in Marseille in 1903. He was 62 years old.
Vincent van Gogh, Postman Joseph Roulin, 1888, oil on canvas, 81.3 × 65.4 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Robert Treat Paine, 2nd. Photo © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Joseph Roulin at the age of 60 or 61, 1902
