Hans Hofmann’s Understanding of the Nature and Structure of Painting

Abstract

Hans Hofmann, a pioneering artist and educator who shaped American art, contributed to the development of the abstract expressionism movement by giving lectures in New York and Provincetown after Germany. He argues that the origin of art lies in nature and is inspired by nature. Hofmann abstracts the physical world entities and expresses them with basic shapes. While he associates his art with the energy and movement of nature, he sees each work of art as a subject expressed through sensory experiences. Hofmann taught art by teaching hundreds of his students and argued that the artist's specific talents were innate. The nature of materials and the use of tools determine the expression of works of art. Hofmann’s art is considered as a system in which color, form and movement influence each other. It focuses on the relationship between positive and negative surfaces and the importance of spaces in painting. The concept of push and pull emphasizes the interaction of pictorial elements with each other by shaping color and form, a basic principle that creates the depth and effect of painting. He establishes the relationship between art and metaphysical reality and argues that the painter expresses spiritual reality through sensory experiences. Hofmann’s understanding of art and his deep philosophical approach to nature, energy, color and relationship in painting inspire the artists who came after him.