Education
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich under Wilhelm von Lindenschmit.
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich under Wilhelm von Lindenschmit.
Bauer"s traditional skills in draftsmanship made him a popular illustrator and portrait artist in the early 20th century. In his later life he made a number of portraits of Nazi leaders. His poetry was admired and promoted by Stefan George.
Born on 7 July 1868, Bauer spent his childhood and youth in Stuttgart.
During his studies Bauer traveled frequently to Italy and France. He financed himself by teaching drawing to the children of wealthy families and making portraits.
In 1891, while he was in Venice, he met Stefan George, of whom he painted a portrait and to whom he showed his poetry. George was impressed both by Bauer"s draughtsmanship and his poems, publishing several of them in Blättern für die Kunst and invited Bauer to join his circle in Munich.
In 1893 he studied in Paris.
He was back in Munich in the autumn of 1895, when George acquainted him with the young poet Karl Gustav Vollmoeller, for whom he created illustrations. His graphic work includes mainly lithographs, pen-and-ink drawings and etchings. After 1896, he settled in Munich, where he worked as illustrator including a notable edition of Heinrich Heine"s Buch der Lieder.
In 1927 he participated in the Munich art exhibition.
In 1930 he moved from Munich back to Stuttgart, living above the town in Sillenbuch. In the Nazi era, Bauer"s traditionalist style was acceptable to the regime, and his career continued to be successful.
In 1938 he was awarded the Goethe Medal for Art and Science. On 6 May 1942, he died during a visit to Munich.