The Roulin Family

Van Gogh at The Met

   I saw this piece titled " Woman Rocking a Cradle" at the Met two weeks ago and i was interested in it because I haven't seen too many portraits done by him in his later work other then of himself and one famous one of his doctor. I was immediately interested in finding out who this women was, why she was significant enough in Van Gogh's life to be painted.

   According to the Met website, there was five versions of this painting done by Van Gogh in 1889 right before his breakdown in Arles .The mystery women is Augustine- Alix Pellicot Roulin, she was the wife of his friend whom also happened a high ranked postmaster in Arles. What many people don't know is Van Gogh painted over twenty picture of The Roulin Family,  which consisted of young Camille, Augustine, Joseph, their eldest son Armand, and infant Marcelle. They were his beloved neighbors and friends that he also mentioned to his brother in there famous letters.

Pictured Below are more portraits of the Roulin Family.

http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/437984

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roulin_Family

http://www.moma.org/learn/moma_learning/vincent-van-gogh-portrait-of-joseph-roulin-1889