Max Dauthendey (1867–1918) belongs into the most significant representatives of literary impressionism and German exoticism of the speaking area. He wrote novels, short stories, autobiographical texts, plays and poetry, and he was also involved in painting.

His impressionistic style is marked by a grandiose command of language and the ability to paint with words, to it conveys colors, smells, sounds, impressions and atmospheres, which is why Richard has it Dehmel and called "the poet of colors". For Stefan George, it is "a wonderful art, which provides a richer pleasure than music and painting because it is at the same time "both".