The Schoolboy (Camille Roulin)
1888
Meet Camille Roulin, the son of the postman who became Van Gogh’s closest friend in Arles. Painted in 1888, this portrait captures the awkward, slightly dazed expression of a teenager who looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than sitting still. Van Gogh used his signature bold, clashing colors here—fiery red-orange background against a cool blue smock and a strangely green face—to create emotional intensity rather than a realistic likeness. It’s a charming snapshot of adolescence, frozen in thick, energetic brushstrokes that practically vibrate off the canvas.
- Technique
- Oil on canvas
- Material
- Canvas
Location: Kröller-Müller Museum
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