Gautier began writing poetry as early as 1826, but the majority of his life was spent as a contributor to various journals, mainly La Presse, which also gave him the opportunity for foreign travel and for meeting many influential contacts in high society and in the world of the arts.
Gautier comezou a escribir poemas en 1826 pero o máis do seu tempo dedicouno a escribir para varios xornais, especialmente para La Presse, o que lle deu a oportunidade de viaxar polo estranxeiro e ter contactos con xente influente na alta sociedade e no mundo artístico.