The Bookworm (circa 1851) by Carl Spitzweg

Carl Spitzweg (1808–1885), German, Carl Spitzweg, born on February 5, 1808, in Munich, Germany, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Biedermeier period and late Romanticism, celebrated for his detailed and often humorous depictions of middle-class life. The son of a prosperous merchant, Spitzweg's early life was marked by the expectation to pursue a career in pharmacy, a path he initially followed despite his burgeoning artistic talent. His mother's death in 1819 and his father's remarriage to her sister introduced a period of personal challenge, yet Spitzweg's passion for art persisted. After leaving school in 1824 without completing his studies, he eventually turned to painting, a decision that would define his legacy.
Spitzweg's work is characterized by its meticulous attention to detail and a gentle satire of the bourgeois lifestyle, reflecting the societal norms and values of 19th-century Germany. His financial independence, secured through inheritance, allowed him the freedom to explore his artistic interests without the constraints of patronage. Over his lifetime, Spitzweg produced a vast array of paintings and drawings, many of which are now considered masterpieces of the Biedermeier era. His contributions to art were not fully recognized until after his death on September 23, 1885, in Munich, but today, he is revered as one of Germany's most important painters of the 19th century.