Portrait of Marcelle Roulin, 1888
Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890)
Oil on Canvas, 35 X 24.5 cm
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
(Vincent van Gogh Stichting)
F 441

In the winter of 1888, Van Gogh painted the family of the postman Joseph Roulin. He painted nearly each member of this family more than once: Marcelle, the youngest member of the family, was painted three times by herself, and twice more on her mother?s lap.
After he had sent the infant portrait to Theo in Paris, Theo?s wife Jo, then pregnant, wrote: SÀI like to imagine that ours will be just as strong, just as beautiful – and that his uncle will one day paint his portrait!?