Carl Spitzweg

Carl Spitzweg (born February 5, 1808, Unterpfaffenhofen, near Munich, Bavaria [Germany]—died September 23, 1885, Munich) is recognized as the most representative of the German artists working in the Biedermeier syle.

Spitzweg is commonly identified as having been born in Unterpfaffenhofen, close to Munich. Trained in pharmacy at the University of Vienna, he was a pharmacist and newspaper illustrator before becoming a painter in 1833. He lived in Munich and traveled widely in Europe.

Spitzweg’s choice of subjects was local and domestic: tenderly, humorously, and with firm control of light, shadow, composition, and detail, he portrayed small town misfits, street musicians, postmen, night watchmen, and lovers bidding farewell.