Henri Pille

1844 - 1897

Quick Facts

  • Lifespan: 53 years
  • Born: 1844, Essômes-sur-Marne, France
  • Nationality: France
  • Top 3 works:
    • Edouardo Zamacois Y Zabala
    • Municipal Canteen During the Siege of Paris (1870-1871)
    • Pilgrimage in Brittany
  • Works on APS: 3
  • Top-ranked work: Edouardo Zamacois Y Zabala

The Life and Art of Henri Pille

Charles Henri Pille was a French painter, illustrator, draftsperson, and printmaker. Born in Essômes-sur-Marne, France, he studied under Félix-Joseph Barrias and later submitted his first painting to the Salon in 1865. His artistic career was marked by significant recognition, including receiving a gold medal from the Ministry of the Emperor's household and of Fine Arts in 1869, and another gold medal at the Paris Exposition of 1889. He was also a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1882 and served as the president of the Society of Illustrators.

His creative output was diverse, ranging from historical and genre scenes often tinged with humor to his highly regarded pen drawings. Pille was a prominent figure in the Montmartre artistic community and contributed to various magazines and newspapers, such as Le Rire and Le Monde illustré. He was also known for designing silhouettes for the shadow theater shows of the Le Chat Noir cabaret.

Illustrations and Legacy

Pille was a prolific illustrator for many publishers, most notably Alphonse Lemerre. His extensive body of work includes illustrations for several literary classics and collections, such as:

His artistic legacy is preserved in several public collections, including the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, and the Carnavalet Museum. He died in Paris.

Questions & Answers

Where are Henri Pille's artworks grouped by art movement?

The movements Henri Pille worked in can be seen on the artist's All Movements page, which groups the artworks by movement.

How did Henri Pille's art evolve over time?

A chronological account of Henri Pille's work is available on the artist's Chronicle page, where the artworks pass in order of creation, chapter by chapter.

Which artworks by Henri Pille are the most viewed?

A Stats page exists for Henri Pille, presenting statistics about the artist's artworks on this website.

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
In which city did Henri Pille die?
Question 2:
Which famous artist expressed admiration for Henri Pille's work in letters to his brother Théo?
Question 3:
Henri Pille was awarded a gold medal at which event in 1889?
Question 4:
Which of these was an occupation held by Henri Pille?
Question 5:
Which organization did Henri Pille serve as president of?