Carl Spitzweg was a German painter best known for his humorous and poetic scenes of everyday Biedermeier-era life. Interestingly, he first trained as a pharmacist before turning to art, and he was largely self-taught as a painter. Spitzweg loved portraying eccentric characters; scholars, hermits, artists, and dreamers, often shown in quiet, intimate interiors or charming city corners. His works combine gentle satire with warmth and careful detail, making them both amusing and deeply human.

The Bookworm (Der Bücherwurm),  1850

The Bookworm is Spitzweg’s most famous painting and a perfect example of his witty storytelling. The artwork shows an elderly scholar perched high on a library ladder, completely absorbed in reading. Surrounded by towering shelves of books, he holds several volumes at once, one in hand, one under his arm, and even one tucked under his knee, emphasizing his obsessive love of knowledge.