Original lithograph signed by hand and annotated in pencil — Henri Bataille (1872–1922) Henri Bataille, whose full name is Félix-Henri Bataille, was born on April 4, 1872, in Nîmes, in the south of France, and died on March 2, 1922, in Rueil-Malmaison. He was one of the most popular playwrights of the Belle Époque and the early years of the 20th century. Youth and Education Henri Bataille studied in Paris, notably at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. He became interested in literature very early and began to publish poetry in the 1890s. He frequented the literary and artistic circles of the capital and formed relationships with several writers and painters of his time. At the age of 20, he published his first collection of poems: La Belle au bois dormant (1892), which reveals a symbolist sensibility. Theatrical Career It was in theater that Henri Bataille found his true path. His first major play, La Lépreuse, premiered in 1896. He achieved success with notable works such as: • La Femme nue (1908) – a sentimental and social drama about romantic passion, which would be adapted to film several times; • Maman Colibri (1904) – on the theme of aging and a mature woman's love for a young man; • L’Enchantement (1900); • Le Scandale (1909). His plays, often performed at the Théâtre de l’Œuvre or the Théâtre Sarah-Bernhardt, are psychological and sentimental dramas, very popular with the public. Style and Themes Henri Bataille distinguishes himself through psychological and sentimental realism, mixed with naturalistic elements and sometimes symbolism. He focuses on describing the torments of the soul, inner conflicts, social tensions, and forbidden or tragic loves. He introduces a form of sensuality and modernity into theater that captivates an audience in search of novelty. His theater is also marked by social criticism, particularly concerning the condition of women, bourgeois appearances, and the hypocrisies of society. Influence and Legacy Henri Bataille enjoyed immense success during his lifetime. His works were translated, performed abroad, and some were adapted to film as early as the beginnings of the 7th art (notably by Abel Gance or Louis Mercanton). Type: Drawing Period: 19th century and earlier Material: Pencil Features: Signed Theme: Character