Madame Roulin and Her Baby

Madame Roulin and Her Baby

   Madame Roulin and Her Baby is a real painting that is now located in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. This painting is mentioned in the book Sunflowers by Sheramy Bundrick as well. The Roulin family has gotten many of their portraits painted by Vincent Van Gogh, a close family friend. The baby in this painting is Marcelle, the youngest of the Roulin family.
   This painting's significance in the book is shown through Rachel, Van Gogh's lover. Rachel was once pregnant with Van Gogh's child, but because of the trauma around her, such as Van Gogh cutting off his ear for her, she experienced a miscarriage. Whenever she sees this painting in Van Gogh's house, she becomes very emotional because of the thoughts of what might have been. Rachel wishes to become Van Gogh's wife and start a family with him, but because of her miscarriage and Van Gogh's constant sickness, it is very hard for her to accept her loss.
   This painting was painted in 1888 with oil on canvas. The main subject of the painting is Marcelle Roulin, who is being held up by her mother, Madame Roulin. The bright yellow background blends into Madame Roulin's face, which emphasizes the focus on the baby's face. The yellow glow in the background can also symbolize a halo, which shows Van Gogh's perspective of the family. Van Gogh uses colors like yellow and green which are very close on the color wheel to symbolize the mother and the baby's closeness. The streaks in the mother's hair shows its texture. His thick brushstrokes hint that baby Marcelle has posed for Van Gogh.