Karl Karger was a genre and historical painter, who was commissioned portraits of the European crowns of the 19th century and paintings inside the great buildings of Vienna. He completed his artistic education at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna.

He worked on the cardboards of the mural paintings in the Viennese Opera House together with Eduard von Engerth. He became a full member of the Künstlerhaus Wien in 1870. Later he taught at different art academies in Vienna.