Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin

1888

Oil on canvas, 81.3 × 65.4 cm. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

A bearded postal worker sits in uniform cap and coat. It opens a run of six portraits he painted of this man.

The blue uniform, with yellow buttons and braid, carries the picture. Strong color contrast, not modeled shadow, gives the sitter his presence.
Look at the large, heavy hands resting on the chair and table.
The thick beard is built from short vertical strokes; he likened it to Socrates'.
In 1889 it was left in Arles with Joseph and Marie Ginoux, and Vollard had it by 1897.
It reached the MFA in December 1935 as a gift of Robert Treat Paine, 2nd.

They became friends once the painter settled in Arles in February 1888. He went on to portray Roulin's wife and children, hoping to paint a whole family.

Image: Wikimedia Commons · PD-Art