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The Lullaby (Augustin Roulin)
Scene depicted
In this canvas , we discover a child peacefully asleep, cradled by the loving arms of his mother, Augustin Roulin. The scene exudes a palpable serenity, imbued with love and tenderness, where innocence mingles with the authenticity of human emotions. The composition, although simple, transcends the everyday to become a deeply touching and universal pictorial work.
Historical context
Created in 1889, this painting is emblematic and is located in Arles , a city that saw the emergence of several works by Vincent van Gogh during his post-impressionist period. The painting, which is now part of the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago with dimensions of 73.8 x 92.7 cm, is set in a context where art reaches its peak in the expression of light and color.
Place in the artist's career
The Cradle occupies a prominent place in Van Gogh's career, illustrating his evolution towards a more intimate and personal style. It stands out alongside other paintings such as *The Starry Night * and * The Bedroom *, testifying to a continuous quest to capture the light and depth of the human soul in his paintings .
Anecdote
“The world itself resembles a cradle, where sweetness and rest mingle with the tremors of life,” Van Gogh might have said when evoking the genesis of this masterpiece . Imagining the painter seized by the gentle atmosphere of a Provençal morning, surrounded by light and the soft murmur of nature, helps to understand the evocative depth of the painting that connects us to this precious moment.