Charles Huard, Printmaker

. . . charming and vivacious pencil sketches . . .

Although French printmaker Charles Huard (1874-1965) trained at the Atelier Julian and began his career as an illustrator for such popular French periodicals as La Rire and L’Assiette au Beurre, his wartime illustrations attracted more interest in the United States . Prior to World War I Huard’s greatest claim to fame was his role as illustrator of the complete works of Honore de Balzac (1910). With the coming of the war he became the Official Painter to the Sixth French Army. The limited edition of prints held by the Athenaeum reflects that role and includes a facsimile letter from General Niox authorizing Huard to enter the French military zone. However, he and his wife Frances Wilson Huard also collaborated on a series of titles which she authored and he illustrated with his pencil sketches; and it is those illustrations which the editors of Publishers Weekly labeled “charming and vivacious.” The Athenaeum holds three volumes reflecting their collaboration as well. [SLT]

See:

Huard, Charles. The War Sketches of Charles Huard. [New York?]: n.d. (1917?) “Privately printed: edition limited to 300 copies.” Includes facsimile letter from General Niox, director of the Musee de l’Armee to the commander of the 6^th Army, authorizing Charles Huard to enter the military zone of France.

Huard, Frances Wilson and Charles Huard. My Home in the Field of Honour. New York: George H. Doran, 1916. (Received in the Athenaeum on 11 October 1916)

Huard, Frances Wilson and Charles Huard. My Home in the Field of Mercy. New York: George H. Doran, 1917. (received in the Athenaeum on 11 January 1918)

Huard, Frances Wilson and Charles Huard. With Those Who Wait. New York: George H Doran, 1918. (received in the Athenaeum on 11 January 1919)

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