Van Gogh museum reveals rare Roulin exhibit

This fall, the Van Gogh Museum is reuniting portraits of the Roulin family—models for Vincent van Gogh during his time in Arles, France—for a special exhibition honouring the deep connection between the artist and the family who befriended him during a lonely period of his life.

The exhibition, titled "Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last," brings together artworks from across the globe, depicting postman Joseph Roulin, his wife, their two sons, and infant daughter. Among the highlights is a portrait of Roulin in his postal uniform, sitting in a willow-wood armchair native to the Provence region.

Originally shown at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the exhibition now arrives in Amsterdam with an added surprise—the very armchair from Van Gogh's studio, featured in the painting, has been discovered in the museum's own collection. It was deemed too fragile to travel to Boston, making its debut in this Amsterdam showing.

"We found the chair in storage—it had never been exhibited before," said Museum Director Emilie Gordenker. "It's amazing what turns up when you delve deeper into a subject like the Roulin family. It's a rediscovery of our own collection."

Between July 1888 and April 1889, Van Gogh created 26 portraits of the Roulin family, 14 of which are featured in the exhibition. These are displayed alongside works by Van Gogh's contemporary Paul Gauguin and Dutch masters such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals, whose art heavily influenced him.

"Many see the Arles period as the peak of Van Gogh's career," said Gordenker. "Whether or not you agree, it was certainly a turning point—his full artistic potential began to shine."

A life-size reconstruction of Van Gogh's iconic yellow house in Arles has been created within the museum, representing the space where he lived and worked. It was there that Van Gogh formed a bond with Roulin, who was more than a model—he became a supportive friend. In a letter to his brother Theo, Van Gogh described Roulin as having a fatherly kindness.

Co-curator Nienke Bakker emphasised how vital this period was to Van Gogh's creative development. "He said painting people brought out the best in him and made him feel connected to humanity," she explained.

The armchair, passed down through Van Gogh's family after he left Arles, now sits beside the Boston portrait in the exhibition. "It's moving to see not just the painting, but the actual chair Roulin sat in," Bakker said. "It's a simple, humble piece of furniture, but deeply meaningful."

The exhibition opens Friday and will run through January 11.