Karl Wilhelm (William) Hahn painted scenes of 19th century daily life in Germany, the East Coast, and California. These paintings often depicted agricultural subjects, which allowed Hahn to combine his skill at depicting figures and animals with his ability to render the landscape.Born in Ebersbach, Germany, in 1829, Hahn studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Dresden and at the Düsseldorf Academy. He met and befriended Californian artist William Keith and his wife during their 1869–70 visit to Germany. On the eve of the Franco-Prussian War, they left Europe together and shared a studio in Boston. They came to California in the spring of 1872. Ten years later, Hahn married and moved to London.