Karl Gussow

Karl Gussow (1843–1907), German, Karl Gussow, a distinguished German painter and educator, was born on February 25, 1843, in Havelberg and passed away on March 27, 1907, in Pasing. His artistic journey began at the Großherzoglich-Sächsische Kunstschule in Weimar, where he honed his skills before venturing to Italy and later collaborating with Arthur von Ramberg in Weimar. Gussow's reputation as a realist painter was complemented by his innovative techniques, notably his use of specially bound short brushes to create unique glazes, a method that led to the naming of the Gussow brush in his honor.
Throughout the 1870s, Gussow's expertise was sought after at the Großherzoglich Badischen Kunstschule in Karlsruhe, and by 1876, he had ascended to a professorship at the Königliche Akademie der Künste in Berlin, a position he held until around 1880 or 1881. His teaching career continued in Munich by 1883, where he influenced a generation of artists, including notable figures such as Max Klinger and Clara von Rappard. Gussow's legacy is marked by his contributions to realism and his role in shaping the artistic landscape of his time through both his paintings and his pedagogical impact.