Carl (Karl) Zewy was born in 1855 in Vienna, Austria.

Zewy received his artistic training at the academies in Vienna and Munich. In Vienna he studied with August Eisenmenger and became friends with the artists Isidor Kaufmann (1853-1921), Josef Gisela (1851-1899) and Johann Hamza (1850-1927). Together with his friends and fellow artists Anton Müller (1853-1897), Emil Strecker (1841-1925).

Zewy was represented by the art dealer Friedrich Schwarz and was therefore one of the so-called "black artists". Commissioned by Friedrich Schwarz, the artists mentioned created - especially in the 1880's - genre paintings with anecdotes from Viennese life, executed in captivating fine painting, the models for which can be found in old Vienn...