Schmucker, who was born in Reading, Pennsylvania attended the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia from 1896 – 99 and the Howard Pile Institute at Drexel from 1898 – 1900. He lived and worked in Philadelphia and was deeply influenced by Aubrey Beardsley and Gustav Klimt, embracing the international Art Nouveau style by the 1890s. During his short career — he died at age 42 — he designed postcards and provided illustrations for books and magazines.
