Max Graf

Max Graf (1873-1958) was an Austrian music critic, writer, and psychoanalyst. He is best known as one of Sigmund Freud's early followers and for being the father of Little Hans, a child whose case study became a foundational text in psychoanalytic theory.

Graf studied law and musicology, eventually earning a doctorate in law. He became a prominent music critic in Vienna, writing for various newspapers and journals. His writings covered a wide range of musical topics, reflecting his broad knowledge and appreciation for different styles.

Graf joined Freud's circle in the early 1900s and became actively involved in the psychoanalytic movement. He was a founding member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society. His son, Herbert Graf (nicknamed "Little Hans"), became the subject of Freud's famous case study, "Analysis of a Phobia in a Five-Year-Old Boy" (1909). Graf collaborated with Freud on the case, providing detailed observations and insights into his son's behavior and fears.

Beyond his association with Little Hans, Graf made his own contributions to psychoanalytic thought, particularly in the application of psychoanalysis to aesthetics and music. He explored the psychological roots of artistic creation and appreciation, applying psychoanalytic concepts to understand the emotional impact of music.

Graf emigrated to the United States in 1938 following the annexation of Austria by Nazi Germany. He continued to write and lecture on music and psychoanalysis until his death in 1958.