During one of the most challenging periods of his life, Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh found an unexpected source of support in Joseph Roulin, a postman in Arles. Their deep and unlikely friendship is the focus of a new exhibition that explores its lasting impact on art history.

A Lifeline in a Time of Crisis

On December 23, 1888, the day Van Gogh famously severed his ear and presented it to a sex worker, it was Joseph Roulin who cared for him. Amidst the turmoil of the artist’s mental struggles, Roulin became a steady presence, ensuring Van Gogh received treatment in a psychiatric hospital, updating his brother Theo on his condition, and even covering his rent while he recovered. When Van Gogh was discharged two weeks later, Roulin spent the entire day with him. In an April 1889 letter to Theo, Van Gogh described him as a man with “silent gravity, a tenderness like an old soldier might have for a young one.”

Celebrating a Rare Friendship Through Art

Opening on March 30 at the MFA Boston before traveling to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam in October, Van Gogh: The Roulin Family Portraits is the first exhibition dedicated to the five members of the Roulin family. Featuring over 20 paintings by Van Gogh, the show also includes works by his key influences, such as Rembrandt, Frans Hals, and Paul Gauguin.

“This isn’t just about Roulin as a model,” says Katie Hanson, co-curator at MFA Boston, “it’s about their deep, personal connection.” While Van Gogh’s tumultuous relationship with Gauguin often dominates discussions of his time in Arles, Roulin’s presence was one of stability and support. This bond is evident in the portraits—where Roulin’s direct gaze and calm presence convey a mutual respect and warmth often absent in Van Gogh’s other works.

A Painter in Search of Connection

Van Gogh moved to Arles in February 1888, hoping the vibrant light and colors would enhance his art. He also believed the local people had an "artistic" quality that made them ideal subjects. A newcomer in town, he found companionship in Roulin, who frequented the Café de la Gare. When Van Gogh struggled to find willing portrait subjects, the boisterous, bearded postman agreed to sit for him, requesting only food and drink in return.

Between August 1888 and April 1889, Van Gogh painted six portraits of Roulin, symbols of camaraderie and hope that contrast sharply with the loneliness seen in some of his other works. Always dressed in his navy-blue postal uniform, gold buttons gleaming, Roulin became more than just a muse—he became Van Gogh’s anchor. The artist admired his sturdy peasant-like nature and fiery republican spirit, describing him as possessing “a distant echo of the clarion of revolutionary France.” With his generous beard and fatherly wisdom, Roulin earned the affectionate nickname “Socrates.”

A Family Portrait in Every Sense

Through Roulin, Van Gogh found more subjects—his wife Augustine and their three children, Armand, Camille, and baby Marcelle. Each portrait captures a distinct phase of life: the teenage Armand, self-conscious with wisps of first facial hair; young Camille, squirming in his chair; and baby Marcelle, whose presence, Roulin wrote, “makes the whole house happy.” Van Gogh, who had once hoped to be a father himself, found in their home a sense of belonging.

Despite the hostility he often faced in Arles—where locals labeled him “the redheaded madman” and even petitioned for his confinement—the Roulin family accepted him. Their friendship was a rare sanctuary in an otherwise turbulent life.

A Mutual Influence

The relationship was not one-sided. Roulin, unused to the company of intellectuals, found Van Gogh an intriguing conversationalist with a fresh perspective. The painter, in turn, was influenced by the postman’s passionate republican ideals and everyday resilience. Their bond even extended beyond distance—while away for work in Marseille, Roulin took comfort in knowing that his portrait hung above Marcelle’s cradle.

In his final months, Van Gogh painted at a staggering pace, producing 70 paintings in 70 days, forever altering the course of art history. His portraits of the Roulin family stand as a testament to the healing power of companionship and the freedom it gave him to experiment with his bold colors, swirling brushstrokes, and emotional intensity.

Had Roulin not stood by him during his darkest moments, Van Gogh may never have survived long enough to create these masterworks. His legacy, shaped in part by this rare friendship, reminds us that even in the depths of despair, the kindness of one person can make all the difference.