Dombrowski studied in Graz. From 1932 he took active part in the Nazi movement and became a key player in the Nazi art scene. In 1934/35 he was Regional Propaganda Director for Styria; in 1938, despite not having the necessary qualifications, he was appointed professor at the Academy for Applied Arts in Munich. After 1945, having quickly been quickly categorised as a ‘fellow traveller’ rather than a committed Nazi, he was a crucial participant in the development of far-right cultural organisations. In the post-war period his works continued to enjoy widespread acclaim.