Sonata No. 1 op. 19 was composed around 1853 in Cologne. At that time, Franck was working as a teacher of music theory at the Cologne Conservatory, and it is assumed that he composed the sonata mainly for his own concert performances. The work came into being through his acquaintance with the young, highly talented violinist Theodor Pixis (1831–1856), who also premièred the sonata. The 1st violin sonata was published in print together with the 2nd sonata op. 23, which was composed in 1859.

Eduard Franck undoubtedly regarded his violin sonatas as a contribution to overcoming the crisis in this genre. Ever since Beethoven and Schubert, no major works had been written, leaving aside Schumann's three sonatas from 1851–53. In this void between 1830 and 1880, Eduard Franck's violin sonatas occupy an honorable place.