Anton Joseph Friedrich Schütz (1894–1977) was born in Berndorf, Germany. Schütz began his formal studies at the University of Munich, but they were put on hold because of World War I. After serving in the German Army, he returned to the University for a period of time before moving on to the Royal Bavarian Academy of Fine Art, where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering and Architecture in 1920. He immigrated to the United States in 1924, where he met and befriended artist Joseph Pennell in New York City and studied at the Art Students League. That same year, he had his first of several solo exhibitions at Anderson Gallery.
A well-known artist in his day, Schütz produced dozens of etchings for the Encyclopedia Britannica and other publications, such as the New York Times and Times Magazine. He also founded the New York Graphic Society in 1925. Many of Shutz’s plates were destroyed during World War II when he donated the metal for the war effort.
During his lifetime Schütz's works were exhibited and collected by major institutions, including the Library of Congress, the British Museum in London, the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris, the New York Public Library, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
