early life and artistic pursuits georg friedrich schmidt, a german engraver, etcher, and pastel painter, was born in 1712 in wandlitz, germany. initially destined to follow his family's cloth-making trade, schmidt's innate artistic talent led him down a different path. he enrolled in the prussian academy of arts, marking the beginning of his illustrious career. artistic influences and notable works schmidt's work is characterized by its delicate, refined style, quintessentially rococo. one of his most celebrated pieces is self-portrait with spider, a masterpiece showcasing his skill in captur…