Henry Somm: Sketching the Belle Époque Parisienne

Henry Somm (1844–1907), born François Clément Sommier in Rouen, was a French illustrator, watercolorist, and printmaker celebrated for his delicate depictions of Parisian life. After training in Rouen and later in Paris under Isidore Pils, he became a prolific graphic artist, producing thousands of drawings and watercolors.

Deeply influenced by Japonisme, Somm developed a refined and elegant style that captured the charm of the Belle Époque. He was especially skilled at portraying the stylish women of Paris, the Parisiennes, with light, fluid lines and a subtle sense of atmosphere. Though invited by Edgar Degas to exhibit with the Impressionists in 1879, he remained an independent observer of modern urban elegance. His sketches and watercolors remain among the most graceful visual records of Belle Époque Paris.

These charming works showcase the light touch and refined observation of Henry Somm, a master at sketching the elegant Parisienne of the Belle Époque.

An Elegant Woman Chased by Demons

A Lady

A Parisienne on a Crowded Street

A Parisienne outside the Moulin de la Galette

An Elegant Lady at the Moulin de la Galette

An Elegant Lady

An Elegant Woman Looking at a Samurai with His Sword

At the Exhibition

Brunette or Blonde?

Elegant in Front of a Front Door

Elegant in White

Elegant Woman at the Moulin de la Galette

In the Sculptor's Studio

Japanese Woman in a Kimono, a Parasol in Her Hand

Portrait of a Woman with a Blue Hat

Red Overcoat

Study of a Young Woman

The Elegant Japanese Woman

The Japanese Woman

The Love Letter

The Stroll

Woman in a Kimono Holding a Fan

Woman of Fashion

Woman with a Puppet

Women of Fashion

Young Woman with a Hat