He had a close connection, personally and artistically, to the poets Johannes Jørgensen, Viggo Stuckenberg and Sophus Claussen.

He was educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts from 1882 to 1883 and under Peder Severin Krøyer at the Artists Studio Schools from 1883 to 1888.

Gottschalk was ambitious, technically skilled, and he worked a long time with his motifs in his mind before painting them.

The paintings often look like they are quickly made sketches which was not recognised in Gottschalk's time.

But today people find his works fresher and more timeless than art from that time normally is.