La Passerelle (The Footbridge)

Henry Ottmann

Born in Anciens in Loire-Atlantique, Ottmann a painter and printmaker began his artistic career in Brussels at the beginning of the 20th century. He made his debut at the Salon La Libre Esthetique in Brussels in 1904 and subsequently participated in prestigious exhibitions such as the Salon des Independants in Paris from 1905, the Salon d’Automne, the Salon Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon des Tuileries.

In 1911 and 1912, Ottmann exhibited at the Artiste de la Societe Moderne at the Gallery of the French art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel, together with other Impressionist painters Durand-Ruel represented such as Armand Guillaumin, Henri Lebasque. In 1912, he also exhibited at the Galerie of French photographer and art dealer Eugene Druet.

In 1919, Ottmann was involved in creating woodcut illustration for La Gebre, a French right-wing newspaper that later collaborated with Nazi Germany during World War II. He worked on these illustrations together with painters Paul Signac and Henriette Tirman.

Ottmann’s pre-World War I works were heavily influenced by the French Impressionists, particularly Renoir and Monet. This influence is evident in his compositions, where he drew inspiration from the modernist movement, as seen in works like Renoir’s Olympia.

Tragically, Ottmann’s life was cut short in a car accident in Vermon on the first of June after a car accident. Driving to his exhibition in Rouen, a burst tire caused his car rolled over in which Ottmann suffered a fractured skull and spine. After being transported in a coma to a clinic in Vernon, he died that night at 49 years old.