American Abstract School. Oil on canvas, framed. Featuring a colorful abstract composition. Signed Hans Hofmann on the lower left corner. Attributed to Hans Hofmann (1880-1966, German-American). 30.5 x 40.5 cm (12.0 x 15.9 inches). Frame size: 40 x 50.5 cm (15.7 x 19.9 inches). PROVENANCE: Southern Ontario estate

Hans Hofmann (1880-1966) was an American-German Abstract Expressionist painter regarded as one of the most influential art teachers of the 20th century. In works such as The Golden Wall (1961), Hofmann disbelieve his belief in the emotional potential of color. “Color is a plastic means of creating intervals—color harmonics produced by special relationships, or tensions,” he once remarked. Born on March 21, 1880 in Weissenberg, Germany, his family moved to Munich, where as a precocious teenager Hofmann produced scientific inventions, including a radar device. Working for the Bavarian government as young man, he moved to Paris in 1904 to pursue a career in art. In 1915, he opened his own art school in Munich, which operated until 1930, when he was invited to teach in the United States. While in New York, he served as a mentor to Helen Frankenthaler, Ray Eames, and Lee Krasner, as well as becoming close friend of Jackson Pollock. In 1960, Hofmann’s work was featured in the Venice Biennale, and three years later, The Museum of Modern Art mounted the landmark exhibition “Hans Hofmann and His Students.” The artist died on February 17, 1966 in New York, NY. Today, his works are held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, the Tate Gallery in London, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., among others.

All lots that do not carry established documented provenance nor any past record of auction history record are described in the catalog as attributed .

All authorship of items in this catalog are described according to the following terms:

Signed [Artist Name] : In cases in which the signature is legible in the lot, this work is described as-is with no attributions given.

By [Artist Name] : The work is by the artist.

Attributed to [Artist Name] : The work may be ascribed to the artist on the basis of style, but there may be some question as to actual authorship.

In the manner of [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but was designed deliberately to emulate the style of the artist.

After [Artist Name] : The work was executed by an unknown hand, but is a deliberate copy of a known work by the artist.

Circle of [Artist Name] : A work of the period of the artist showing his influence, closely associated with the artist but not necessarily his pupil.

Follower of [Artist Name]: A work by a pupil or a follower of the artist (not necessarily a pupil).

American, 19th century : This work was executed by an unknown hand, and can only be identified by origin (i.e., region, period).