Max Gaisser was born in Augsburg on 22 June 1857. He was the son of Jakob Emmanuel Gaisser. He started out as a miniaturist painter as well as a book illustrator. He later worked as an architectural designer for Claus Meyers Interiors.

Gaisser went on to study at The Academy in Munich and exhibited there as well as in Bremen and Dresden from 1883. His works were featured at the French Salon des Artistes where he obtained an award in 1910.

Max travelled as an artist to Holland and Belgium, working in both oil and watercolour.