Van Gogh was particularly attached to the Roulin family. Joseph Roulin, husband of Augustine and father of Armand, Camille and Marcelle, was Van Gogh's friend and model. Between 1888 and 1889, he painted several portraits of them - family portraits, child portraits, as well as intimate moments. In this exhibition, you will see many of those works displayed together for the first time.
This exhibition explores not only the visual kinship between art and portraiture, but the emotional aspect of that relationship. You will see how Van Gogh created variations in color, facial expression and mood - sometimes subtle, sometimes radical - in his efforts to capture his perception as well as feelings. The curatorial structure shows sections that highlight the evolution of the works: from Joseph Roulin to Camille and Marcelle.
Uniquely, some portraits from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, are brought together with works from Amsterdam. This creates a dialogue between international collections and Van Gogh's vision. Visitors can use an interactive audio experience and participate in assignments for children - the exhibition invites both reflection and exploration.
"In this collection, a friend comes to life - in color, vulnerability and unspoken stories."
Van Gogh and the Roulins doesn't just make you look; it invites you to connect. You hear the silence between brushstrokes, see intimate moments through color and pastels, and realize that portraiture is more than likeness - it is empathy.