Charles Bétout – Drawing - The Pont Marie, Paris

This charcoal and ink drawing by Charles Bétout depicts the Pont Marie in Paris, in a composition where the trees along the riverbanks frame the bridge’s arches and the views of the Seine. The delicacy of the line, the hatching, and the play of shadows lend this view of Paris an atmosphere that is both serene and vibrant. Blending architectural precision with a free hand, this original 20th-century drawing reflects a sensitive perspective on the urban landscape, its light, and its vistas. Signed work, located in Paris and dated in the lower right corner.

Charles Bétout (1869–1945) was a French draftsman and costume designer, particularly renowned for his work in the theater. A collaborator of Charles Bianchini, he notably designed costumes for the Paris Opera from 1905 to 1907, and later became head of the costume workshops at the Comédie-Française from 1919 to 1939. His drawings, now preserved primarily at the Maison de Balzac, attest to the precision and mastery of his graphic art.