Charles Henri Pille was born in Essômes-sur-Marne, Aisne, on 4 January 1844. He studied under Félix-Joseph Barrias. He submitted his first painting to the Salon in 1865. In 1869 he received the Gold Medal of the Ministry of the Emperor's household and of Fine Arts. He was awarded a gold medal at the Paris Exposition of 1889.
He was recognized by the artistic community of Montmartre. His work developed with historical scenes and genre scenes that were often tinged with humor. He is best known for his pen drawings. He made numerous illustrations for publishers, particularly Alphonse Lemerre. He contributed to magazines and newspapers such as Le Courrier Français, Le Rire, Le Monde illustré, Le Procope, Journal amusant, La Vie moderne, Le Voleur and Le Petit Français illustré. He published drawings in the review of Le Chat Noir cabaret, and helped design its silhouettes for its shadow theater shows.
In his letters to his brother Théo, Vincent van Gogh repeatedly expressed his admiration for the work of Henri Pille whom he met during his stay in Paris between May 1875 and March 1876. Henri Pille became a Knight of the Legion of Honour in 1882. He was president of the Society of Illustrators. He died in Paris on 4 March 1897.
Books illustrated by Henri Pille
By order of publication date:
William Shakespeare, Œuvres complètes de Shakespeare, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1875–1880
Alfred de Musset, Œuvres de Alfred de Musset, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1876
Joseph-Charles Vendryes, Voyages en famille, Paris, Ludovic Baschet, 1877
Brantôme, Les dames galantes, Paris, éditions Arnaud et Labat, 1879
François Coppée, Bleuette, Conte en vers, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1880
Coquelin cadet (under the pseudonym Pirouette), Le livre des convalescents, Paris, Tresse, 1880
Charles Perrault, Les Contes, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1880
Auguste Brizeux, Marie, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1881
Paul Scarron, Le Roman comique, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1881
Walter Scott, Quentin Durward, Paris, Librairie de Firmin-Didot & Cie, 1881
Coquelin cadet (sous le pseudonyme Pirouette), Fariboles, Paris, Paul Ollendorf, 1882
Aimé Giron, Les Cinq Sous d'Isaac Laquedem – Le Juif Errant – Contes et histoires pour enfants, Paris, Librairie Firmin-Didot, 1883.
Édouard Laboulaye, Derniers contes bleus, Paris, Jouvet et Cie, 1884
Thierry Augustin, Œuvres choisies : Récits des temps mérovingiens, Paris, Léon Bonhoure, 1885
Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin, Chansons et rondes enfantines, Garnier Frères, 1885
Jean-Baptiste Weckerlin, Nouvelles Chansons et rondes enfantines, Garnier Frères, 1886
Savinien Lapointe, II était une fois..., Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1886
Victor Hugo, Notre-Dame de Paris, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1886
Adelbert von Chamisso, Histoire merveilleuse de Pierre Schlémihl, ou l'Homme qui a vendu son ombre, Paris, L. Westhausser, 1888.
Ernest d'Hervilly, Héros légendaires, leur véritable histoire, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1889
Roger Miles, Pages d'autrefois, Paris A. Lanier & fils, 1889
Charles Delon, Ma petite sœur Naïk, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1891
Edgar Monteil, Histoire du célèbre Pépé, Paris, Librairie de l'éducation de la jeunesse., 1891
Gaston de Raimes, Soldats de France, actions héroïques, Paris, Alphonse Lemerre, 1892–1895
Georges Bureau, Les Maris de Colette, Paris, Paul Ollendorff, 1895
