Hans Hofmann

Narrative originated from: Ahrens, Nyla. Provincetown: The Art Colony A Brief History and Guide.(1997 and revised 2000) Provincetown Art Association and Museum

Hans Hofmann was an internationally recognized artist and teacher of abstract modernism. Before arriving in Provincetown in the 1930's, he had studied in Paris, operated his own school in Munich, taught at the Art Students League and other American schools of art. He established the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts in New York in 1933 and in 1934 opened his summer school in Provincetown.

He initially leased the former Hawthorne home and barn studio on Miller Hill, then taught in Fritz Bultman's studio in Days Lumberyard.. In 1945 Hofmann bought property at 76 Commercial Street which gave him a studio space for teaching.

Hofmann's classes were filled with established artists as well as neophytes, and his Friday afternoon critiques drew crowds of artists, critics and vacationers. It was noted that nearly everyone of importance in the world of modern art came to these sessions at least once and many major artists were drawn by his presence to spend summers in Provincetown. Among those who came were Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Larry Rivers, Fritz Bultman, Franz Kline and Mark Rothko.

After 43 years of teaching - 23 of them in Provincetown - Hofmann closed both his schools in 1958 in order to paint full-time. Hans Hoffmann died in 1966 shortly after hanging a show of his work at the Kootz Gallery in New York.