Henry Ottmann (1877-1927), Baby, Charcoal On Papier

Henry OTTMANN (1877-1927)
Baby, circa 1920
Charcoal on papier
Signed lower right
32,5 x 28 cm
frame 50 × 40 cm
Catalogue raisonné num. 639

Henry Ottmann was born in 1877 in Ancenis in the Loire-Atlantique region. He studied art at the Académie Julian in Paris before moving to Belgium, where he became a member of the Labeur artists' circle, which organised an annual exhibition in Brussels. In 1904, he exhibited for the first time at the salon organised by La Libre Esthétique. He presented three paintings depicting Luxembourg Station, one of which is now in the Musée d'Orsay. Settling in Montmartre, from 1905 onwards he participated in the Salon des Indépendants, the Salon d'Automne, the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon des Tuileries. A retrospective exhibition was organised in 1928 at the Georges Petit Gallery, one year after his death in an accident.

Henry Ottmann tackles a varied repertoire. He remains very attached to his native region, depicting numerous landscapes in oil and pastel with the sensitivity of a great colourist. He draws on the lessons of Impressionism, both in the modernity of his subjects and in their treatment. He also excels in the art of portraiture and depicts genre scenes animated by members of his family. The charcoal drawing we are presenting depicts a baby whose features resemble those of little Fernand, the artist's grandson.