The son of a painter (and eventual photographer), Liesegang longed for an artistic career but lacked the ability to draw or paint. His father would later invent a camera and photography would go on to be one of Liesegangs passions. Research into photographic emulsions led to his personal discovery of Liesegang rings. He was not the first person to observe the effect, but they bear his name, as he devoted so much time to researching them.
As an heir to the founder of Ed. Liesegang oHG, Düsseldorf, he also owned a factory producing photographic paper and chemicals. Ed. Liesegang oHG later expanded into optics manufacturing, and sold its photochemical interests.
