Amid the cobbled streets of Braunau am Inn, Austria-Hungary, I first drew breath on April 20, 1889. The town's hum and historical aura whispered tales of the old empire, but I was different - frail in form, but with a spirit indomitable. The winds that rustled the trees also carried my dreams of bravado. My fears? None, not even towards my imposing father.
My heart pulsed with the rhythm of paint on canvas, the subtle hues blending to form masterpieces. The dream? A sprawling mansion adorned with my paintings, and pockets filled with the appreciation of gold. However, not everyone saw the world through my lens. "Art won't put bread on our table," my parents would often remark, their voices echoing the pragmatism of our hard times.