Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle (La berceuse)

Madame Roulin Rocking the Cradle (La berceuse) is an iconic oil on canvas painting created by Vincent van Gogh in 1889. This moving portrait, which translates to "the cradle rocker," features Augustine Roulin, the wife of the Arles postman Joseph Roulin, a close friend and frequent subject for the artist. Gogh created five known versions of this composition, each varying slightly in background patterning and color treatment. In this rendition, Madame Roulin is depicted seated, holding a rope attached to an unseen cradle, against a densely patterned field of floral decoration.

The painting serves as a key example of the expressive power inherent in Post-Impressionism. Executed while Gogh was recuperating at the asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, the work is characterized by the artist's vigorous application of paint and intense use of color for emotional effect. Gogh specifically chose complementary pairings—such as the vibrant greens and reds of her clothing set against the striking yellow and orange of the background—to evoke the comforting, maternal quality he associated with the subject. The style reflects the Dutch master’s shift away from naturalism toward a symbolic representation of feeling.

Gogh originally conceived of this portrait as a central panel for a triptych, or perhaps a soothing image specifically intended for the Roulin family nursery. This particular version, distinguished by its high degree of impasto and psychological depth, resides as a cornerstone of the Post-Impressionist holdings at the Art Institute of Chicago. Its status as an influential 19th-century portrait ensures its legacy; consequently, high-quality prints and reproductions of the work are widely available. Such accessibility often places images related to this pivotal era of the Netherlands' artistic output into the realm of the public domain, allowing broad study and appreciation of La berceuse worldwide.