Olaf Gulbransson was born in Norway in 1873. After establishing himself as a leading humorous artist in his own country he was recruited in 1902 by Albert Langen, to work for his German journal, Simplicissimus.

In 1906 several staff members, including Gulbransson, Ludwig Thoma, Thomas Heine, Rudolf Wilke, and Edward Thony persuaded Albert Langen to change Simplicissimus into a joint stock company. This gave more power to the staff to control the direction of the journal.

Apart from a period (1922-27) when Gulbransson returned to Norway, he worked in Munich until Simplicissimus ceased publication in 1944. Olaf Gulbransson died in 1958.