Hans Hofmann papers, circa 1904-2011

This series includes published and unpublished manuscripts, drafts, revisions, and notes by Hofmann and other authors, organized by type-books, articles and essays, etc. Hans Hofmann wrote extensively about his philosophy of painting, about himself as a teacher and an artist, and about modern art. Writings by other authors are mainly about Hofmann and modern art.

Books, arranged alphabetically by title, include manuscripts, drafts, and revisions. Considered Hofmann's most important text, Das Malerbuch: Form und Farbe in Gestaltung, circa 1904-1952[?], is an instructional primer begun in Paris circa 1904 and added to over many years. It remains unpublished. An English translation, Creation in Form and Color, was made by Glenn Wessels in 1931. Peggy Huck's translation, The Supersensitory Origin of Painting, was completed in 1931. After microfilming was completed, several versions of Das Malerbuch and the two English translations were received from the Renate, Hans and Maria Hofmann Trust in 2006. Search for the Real and Other Essays, was issued in 1948 to accompany Hofmann's retrospective exhibition at the Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, Mass., the first one-man show of an Abstract Expressionist organized by a museum.

Articles and essays consist of published and unpublished manuscripts arranged alphabetically by title, with untitled items alphabetized by first line. Among them are the constituent essays of Search for the Real and Other Essays: "The Search for the Real in the Visual Arts," "Sculpture," "On the Aims of Art;" and "Plastic Creation."

Notes, outlines, and some complete texts of speeches are arranged chronologically. Miscellaneous writings are shorter, informative, mostly unpublished pieces written between 1944 and 1960. Untitled items are alphabetized by first line. Representative titles include: "I am Often Asked to Explain My Work," "A Reply to the Demand to Name some of My Students that have come Into Prominence," and "About the relation of students and teachers." Hofmann revised 5 manuscripts ("Untitled, in German") by literally cutting and pasting portions onto very long sheets which were then rolled tightly for storage. Over the years, the glue dried out and the scrolls came apart; fortunately, most sections were numbered sequentially, so their order could be reconstructed fairly well prior to scanning.

Among the notes and lists are notes on works of art concerning "Construction," "Magenta and Blue," the Chiamabote mural, and the New York School of Printing mosaic. Lists of paintings include works to be exhibited at Galerie Maeght (Paris), Mirski Gallery (Boston), and the Whitney Museum; works to be framed; and works to be shipped.

Writings by other authors are mostly unpublished articles, essays, and reviews arranged alphabetically by author. An untitled piece by C. Z., most likely Carl Zigrosser, was written in response to an article about the psychology of Picaasso's art by Carl Jung. Unsigned items include a review of Camille Pisarro: Letters to his Son Lucien, ed. John Rewald; and reviews of Hofmann exhibitions at the 67 Gallery (1945) and at Galerie Maeght (1949).

Writings are arranged by author and then by document type. The series is arranged as 2 subseries:

This series has been scanned in its entirety.