Scharl paints this portrait after visiting Einstein in 1927. He gives it to the city of Nuremberg in 1930 as thanks for a scholarship. The first exhibition of undesirable art is held in Nuremberg’s Städtische Galerie in April 1933 – this painting is included.

Scharl and Einstein meet again in their mutual exile in the U.S. Scharl is a frequent guest of Einstein’s in Princeton, and produces dozens of oil portraits and drawings of the scholar.