Weimar Saxon-Grand Ducal Art School
He began as a flower painter at the Royal Porcelain Factory. In 1877, he decided to study with Friedrich Preller at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. A year later, he switched to the Weimar Saxon-Grand Ducal Art School, where he studied under Theodor Hagen until 1887. During his studies, he travelled to Mecklenburg and Hamburg as well as Holland and Flanders. In 1888, he stayed briefly at the art colony in Dachau District.