He was nicknamed the "little master of corset" or the "painter of the midinette" Boutet specializes in the 1890s in the production of etchings and drypoints representing women in negligee, in the style of "Parisian" and has had little success with an informed public.

With his growing reputation, Boutet launched his own publishing house and sold his productions to periodicals such as Le Frou-frou, L'Assiette au beurre, Le Pêle-Mêle, or artistic publications such as La Plume, L'Estampe originale, The modern print or even the Hundred Collection.

It illustrates many almanacs (The Female Year), calendars, menus.

In 1902 he published "Les Modes Feminines du XIXe Siecle" which met with instant acclaim.

The illustrations were hand-coloured, with close attention to detail, and a treatment that showed his affection for the subject matter.