Michael Hofmann *1944
Michael Hofmann was born in Chemnitz in 1944. He received his artistic training between 1969 and 1977 whilst studying at the Academy of Fine Arts in Dresden. This environment continues to shape the character of Michael Hofmann’s art to this day. One can sense in his works echoes of the old and new masters, particularly the classical Dresden School. Nevertheless, Hofmann’s body of work as a whole is highly individual.
Hofmann particularly favours the classical technique of woodcut. The bold emphasis on form and the reduction to the essentials link his works to the Expressionism of the Brücke artists, such as Karl Schmidt-Rottluff and Erich Heckel. With just a few confidently placed lines, a vibrant composition is created that emphasises the work’s expressiveness. Both the black-and-white woodcuts and the colour woodcuts printed from a lost form are characterised by a form-determined structure. Although colour appears as a means of expression and a harmonising element, it is always subordinate to form due to the rather flat application. As Hofmann’s prints are hand-printed editions produced specifically for this purpose, and the artist deliberately refrains from using a printing press, these prints—which appear in small editions—are particularly attractive and sought-after by collectors.
Form as a means of expression is also of great significance in the artist’s paintings. However, there is also a particular emphasis on colour here, which becomes the defining element of Michael Hofmann’s painting. The artist rarely works with paper in his unique pieces. He prefers canvas and larger formats, as this allows him to juxtapose colours more densely and compactly within large colour fields. In his colour compositions, the various parts of his paintings are arranged in a constructive manner, often with a distorted perspective. These distortions, which at times even have a Cubist feel, lend the works an enormous sense of tension and are typical hallmarks of Hofmann’s individual style of painting.
In terms of subject matter, the artist’s work is extremely multifaceted. It ranges from landscapes, figure and nude paintings, still lifes and interiors to window scenes depicting views in and out. Hofmann observes the reality of life and appears to dissect it analytically at first, before masterfully reconstructing it artistically in his paintings. In doing so, he has also developed his own distinctive style as a painter. This style has become a defining feature and a constant throughout his extensive body of work, which stands out from others thanks to the artist’s inexhaustible wealth of imagination.
The works captivate with their sophisticated composition and the radiance of their colours. In all of them, there is an unmistakable sense of optimism, cheerfulness and a positive outlook on life – qualities that also characterise Michael Hofmann as a person. Cheerfulness, confidence and light-heartedness are qualities that Hofmann knows how to convey to the viewer through his art.
What is particularly inspiring about Hofmann’s works is their coherence and professionalism. Natural forms are so skilfully transformed into art that their true nature no longer needs to be questioned. The art stands on its own and speaks for itself.