A young boy gazes directly outward, his blue eyes vivid against a field of yellow that fills the background. His face is rendered in bold, rhythmic brushstrokes of orange, yellow, and green, giving the skin a lively, almost sculpted texture. A large blue cap sits atop his head, its surface animated by thick, energetic strokes of blue and white that suggest the play of light on fabric.

The boy’s features are outlined with subtle, dark contours, emphasizing the roundness of his cheeks and the shape of his nose and lips. He wears a green garment fastened with a single red button at the collar, the fabric described with sweeping, parallel strokes of green and white. The background is a flat, luminous yellow, broken by slanting marks of green and ochre that echo the direction and movement of the brushwork in the figure.

The composition is tightly cropped, bringing the boy’s head and shoulders close to the picture plane and creating a sense of immediacy and intimacy. Distinct, visible brushstrokes throughout the painting give the surface a palpable sense of energy and movement. The colour scheme contrasts the cool blues and greens of the boy’s clothing and cap with the warm yellows and oranges of his face and the background.

Small details, such as the red button and the varied direction of the brushstrokes in the background, add visual interest and texture to the scene. No secondary figures or objects are present in the composition, with only the boy depicted against the background. The yellow background extends to all four edges and corners of the canvas, with no interruption or framing elements.

Short, directional brushstrokes in the background create a swirling effect, especially around the boy’s head, and the paint is applied thickly, leaving visible ridges and texture. The title identifies the subject as Camille Roulin, and the artist as Vincent van Gogh.