Vincent, A Portrait by the Postman Roulin -Theatrical Performance
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm / $10.00 pp

This intimate and revealing one-man show paints a portrait of the great artist, Vincent van Gogh, through the eyes of Vincent’s loyal friend, the Postman Roulin. The postman relays the artist’s amazing personal and artistic journey from his native Holland to the South of France. You are transported to a café in Auvers, France in the year 1890. Before you are two chairs, a table, a baguette in a country basket, a bottle of peasant wine and two glasses. You are asked, “Would you like to share my bottle of wine and talk? Sometimes strangers can have the most intimate conversations.”

For the next hour, author, educator, and Screen Actors Guild actor, Ted Zalewski as the Postman, captures the spirit of van Gogh the man, and the essence of van Gogh, the artist. Written by Mr. Zalewski, the play is based on extensive research on van Gogh’s life and letters and is filled with humor, passion, and joie de vivre.

Vincent van Gogh was a Dutch painter, generally considered the greatest after Rembrandt van Rijn, and one of the greatest of the Post-Impressionists. “The striking color, emphatic brushwork, and contoured forms of his work powerfully influenced the current of Expressionism in modern art.” He painted almost 900 paintings in 10 years and died at the age of 37, having only sold one painting. Sadly, van Gogh did not live long enough to see the extent of his legacy, which includes that his works now command some of the highest prices in the world. Some of van Gogh’s famous works include, “Starry Night” (1889), “The Potato Eaters” (1885), “The Night Café” (1888), “Sunflowers” (1888), and several self-portraits. “He was a pioneer of the post-impressionistic selfie.”

Vincent van Gogh’s friendship with Joseph Roulin, the postmaster in Arles, played a significant role in the artist’s life during his stay in Southern France. Roulin became one of van Gogh’s closest friends and favorite portrait subject. He painted over 20 portraits of Roulin and his family during their friendship, showcasing their difficult lives as working-class people.

Litchfield Community Center
421 Bantam Road
Litchfield, CT 06759
860-567-8302
www.thecommunitycenter.org

2026-09-24

Vincent, A Portrait by the Postman Roulin -Theatrical Performance