Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Max Bohm died in Provincetown, Massachusetts 1923, where he became one of the early forces in creation of art colony there. In 1886 he studied at the Academie Julian School in Paris, with Boulanger, Constant, Lefebvre, and Mosler. Focusing on the styles of the Old Masters, he traveled in England, Holland, Germany, Italy and France and lived in Europe much of his professional life.

In 1895, he attended an open school of painting in Etaples, France, and during the winter months he continued to teach painting at a school in London, England. In 1911, he stopped teaching to focus more on his own painting techniques.

Elected as a National Academician in 1920, he was also Vice President of the National Mural Painters Society, and life member of the National Arts club.