Henry Ottmann (1877-1927) Still Life With Lamp, Signed Pastel

Henry Ottmann (1877-1927)  
A Still life with a lamp
signed lower right
pastel on paper 
30 x 38 cm
Framed 45 x 53 cm

We knew that Henry Ottmann was a great pastelist, and he demonstrates this brilliantly in this beautiful still life. 
The velvety pastel and the harmony of colours serve his subject wonderfully. 
Of course, the atmosphere created around the lamp is reminiscent of Edouard Vuillard's interiors from the same period, who was also very fond of the lamp motif and its lighting. 
So Ottmann was an artist of his time, but with a very personal artistic language, and as in this case, his characteristic touch is immediately recognisable. Once again, pastels are the ideal medium for creating the hazy atmosphere that is the hallmark of Henry Ottmann's art.

Henry Ottmann was born on 10 April 1877 in Ancenis. 
He made his debut at the Salon La Libre Esthétique in Brussels in 1904 and took part in the Salon des Indépendants in Paris from 1905, the Salon d'Automne, the Salon de la Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and the Salon des Tuileries.
In 1911 and 1912, Ottmann exhibited at the Artistes de la Société Moderne at the Gallery Paul Durand-Ruel together with Armand Guillaumin, Henri Lebasque and others. In 1912, he exhibited at the gallery Eugène Druet.
In 1920, Ottmann exhibited at the gallery Marcel Bernheim together with Manguin, Tirman, Alexandre-Paul Canu and others.
In 1922, he exhibited at the Exposition du Cercle Artistique de Bruxelles together with those of Paul-Albert Besnard, Pierre Bonnard, Raoul Dufy, Othon Friesz, Charles Guérin, André Lhote, Henri Matisse, Paul Signac, Maurice de Vlaminck and others.
In 1926, Ottmann exhibited at the gallery L.Dru (Paris)  and at the Parisian gallery La Palette Française and in March 1927 in the gallery Armand Drouand.
He died in Vernon on 1 June 1927 after a car accident.
The Museum of Fine Arts in Nantes has a dozen paintings by the painter, including L'Étal Marseillais, L'Erdre at the bridge of Orleans and Portrait of the artist . 
The painting La Gare du Luxembourg à Bruxelles is now exhibited at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.