Original lithograph hand-signed 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 southern 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, particularly at the Lycée Louis-le-Grand. He became interested in literature at an early age and began publishing poetry in the 1890s. He frequented the literary and artistic circles of the capital and befriended 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 calling. His first major play, La Lépreuse, premiered in 1896. He achieved success with significant works such as: • La Femme nue (1908) – a sentimental and social drama about passionate love, which has been adapted for 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 that are very popular with the public. Style and Themes Henri Bataille is distinguished by his psychological and sentimental realism, blended 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, appealing to an audience in search of novelty. His theater is also imbued with social criticism, particularly regarding the female condition, 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 for film from the early days of cinema (notably by Abel Gance or Louis Mercanton). Authenticity: Original Type: Lithograph Period: 20th Century and Contemporary Medium: On paper Genre: Symbolism Features: Framed, Signed, Numbered Theme: Character