Ludwig von Hofmann

German Ludwig von Hofmann was the son of the former Prime Minister (1872-76) of the Grand Duchy of Hessia, Karl von Hofmann (1827-1910). Ludwig first studied law, then art in Dresden, Karlsruhe, and Paris, and belonged, like Max Liebermann, to the Group of XI, later the Berlin Secession. Artistically he could not be classified easily as he painted in different genres: symbolism, art nouveau, historicism, and new objectivity. After his studies, he lived in Berlin and intermediately in Roma.

In 1903, von Hofmann became a professor at the Weimar School of Art, but in 1916 moved to the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden, until 1931. Some of his works were considered “degenerate” by the Nazis, while others were acceptable to the Reich.

The drawing Polospieler (Polo Player, lead pencil/charcoal) could clearly be identified based on the illustration in the German catalog. The pastel drawing Reiter am Meer (Rider by the Sea) was on loan from the National Museum in Berlin. It is probably Young Men with Horses at the Seashore from 1894 in the format 31,4 x 23,5 cm. A - less probable – alternative is Young boys with horses at the Watering Pace (black chalk, pastel, 22,9 x 30,5 cm), which is also in possession of the National Gallery. The Ruderer (Rowers, in the international catalog Two Rowers) were probably preliminary sketches for a later oil painting. Both sketches and paintings are in the Hamburger Kunsthalle. A possible work with the motif Badende am Ufer (Bathers on the Shore) could be Badende Knaben am Elbufer bei Hamburg (_Boys Bathing on the Banks of the Elbe near Hamburg), created around 1908 with black chalk. The 134 x 193 mm drawing was already shown in 1918 in a book published by Reichskunstwart Edwin Redslob (1884-1973) and was owned by him at a later date.