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Lot Essay
Throughout his life, Hofer was very critical of his own work, destroying several of his early pictures if he found them not of sufficient artistic merit. He was particularly pleased with this painting, however, choosing to include it in his autobiographical book, Aus Leben und Kunst, written in 1952.
Hofer executed the painting in 1938, the year in which he was dismissed from the Preußische Akademie by the National Socialists. In 1933, they had declared his art 'degenerate' and removed his pictures from German museums. Several of his pictures were included in the 'Entartete Kunst' exhibition of 1937. Hofer was, however, still supported by several dealers, such as the Galerie Nierendorf who organised the exhibition to celebrate his 60th birthday.
The present picture was owned by Dr Sprengel, the celebrated German collector. In 1969, he bequeathed his extraordinary collection (over 300 works) to his native town of Hannover, where the Sprengel Museum was set up. Sprengel and his wife started collecting pictures after being deeply impressed by Hofer and his fellow "Degenerates" in the 'Entarte Kunst' exhibition of 1937.
Hofer executed the painting in 1938, the year in which he was dismissed from the Preußische Akademie by the National Socialists. In 1933, they had declared his art 'degenerate' and removed his pictures from German museums. Several of his pictures were included in the 'Entartete Kunst' exhibition of 1937. Hofer was, however, still supported by several dealers, such as the Galerie Nierendorf who organised the exhibition to celebrate his 60th birthday.
The present picture was owned by Dr Sprengel, the celebrated German collector. In 1969, he bequeathed his extraordinary collection (over 300 works) to his native town of Hannover, where the Sprengel Museum was set up. Sprengel and his wife started collecting pictures after being deeply impressed by Hofer and his fellow "Degenerates" in the 'Entarte Kunst' exhibition of 1937.