The Postman Joseph Roulin 1888

Vincent van Gogh created this drawing of "The Postman Joseph Roulin" using pen and ink. The portrait presents a subject whose solidity is constructed through line, carefully built up through a controlled palette of ink washes, while the image's overall composition is structured by the repeated horizontals of Roulin's uniform. Note how this echoes in the parallel lines used to articulate shadow and volume throughout the drawing. This strategic use of line gives the figure a sense of grounded presence, anchoring Roulin within the pictorial space. Consider how the artist uses the semiotic system of clothing. Here, the uniform becomes a signifier of Roulin's profession and his societal role. The linearity contrasts with the fluidity of the ink, destabilizing the solidity of the figure and creating a tension between form and formlessness. Ultimately, the drawing demonstrates that art can destabilize established notions, revealing the rich complexities inherent in the seemingly straightforward portrayal of a man in uniform.