Corwin Knapp Linson was an artist and illustrator, originally from Brooklyn, new York. From an early age he had an interest in and affinity for art, and was particularly influenced by the work of Thomas Nast. At sixteen he earned an apprenticeship with a wood engraver based in New England. In his later teens Linson travelled to Paris where he studied at the Academie Julian and later the L'Ecole des Beaux Arts under the direction of Gerome of Lefebvre and Jean Paul Laurens.

Over his career Linson worked as an illustrator for magazines such as Ladies Home Journal, Delineator, McClure's, Scribner's, and Century. In 1896 he was comissioned to portray the events of the first Olympic Games held in Athens, Greece. In addition to his illustrative works, Linson designed stained glass windows such as five examples for the Baptist Temple in Brooklyn. He also was an accomplished portrait artist.