Artist
Hans Hofmann American, born Germany, 1880–1966
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Sparks
Date1957
PlaceNew York, United States
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions60 × 48 in. (152.4 × 121.9 cm)
Credit LineBequest of Caroline Wiess Law
Object number2004.24
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 310
On view
Explore Further
Department
Modern and Contemporary ArtObject Type
Exhibition History"Contemporary Americans," Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada, February 8–28, 1967.
"Hans Hofmann," André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., New York, January 1968.
"Hans Hofmann, Ten Major Works," André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., New York, January 11–30, 1969.
"Modern Painting: 1900 to the Present," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 15–September 14, 1975.
"A Spirited Vision: Highlights of the Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–April 25, 2004.
"Acquisitions of the Last Five Years: Selections of Modern and Contemporary Art," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 15–October 15, 2005.
"Color into Light: Selections from the MFAH Collection," Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 13, 2008–March 22, 2009.
"Hans Hofmann: The Nature of Abstraction," The University of California, Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, February 27–July 21, 2019; Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Massachusetts, September 21, 2019–January 6, 2020.
"Color into Light," Nancy and Rich Kinder Building Inaugural Exhibition, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, November 15, 2020–November 15, 2022.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in black paint on verso upper right: "855 - oil on canvas / Sparks / (signature) / 1957 / 60-48"
Inscribed in red marker, verso upper right corner: "MFAH 2004.24"
Inscribed in black ink on verso proper right of frame: "63"
Inscribed in ink on label, proper right edge of frame: "3295" [faded]
Inscribed in red ink on label, upper left corner, backing board: "28,000"
Inscribed in black ink on label, center left, backing board: "16,500"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "TR:102-79/ Law / 25 Apr 79"
Inscribed in red ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "28,000"
Inscribed in black ink on label, center right, backing board: "16,500"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "Cat. 855-1957 / Sparks / oil on canvas / 60 x 48"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "TR:116-74 Hofmann / (under T.M. Law / Rec'd: 14 June 1974"
See accession file for images
Inscribed in red marker, verso upper right corner: "MFAH 2004.24"
Inscribed in black ink on verso proper right of frame: "63"
Inscribed in ink on label, proper right edge of frame: "3295" [faded]
Inscribed in red ink on label, upper left corner, backing board: "28,000"
Inscribed in black ink on label, center left, backing board: "16,500"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "TR:102-79/ Law / 25 Apr 79"
Inscribed in red ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "28,000"
Inscribed in black ink on label, center right, backing board: "16,500"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "Cat. 855-1957 / Sparks / oil on canvas / 60 x 48"
Inscribed in ink on label, upper right corner, backing board: "TR:116-74 Hofmann / (under T.M. Law / Rec'd: 14 June 1974"
See accession file for images
Painted recto lower right: " '57 / Hans Hofmann"
Painted on verso canvas upper right: "hans hofmann / 1957"
Painted on verso canvas upper right: "hans hofmann / 1957"
Marked on label, upper left corner, verso: "MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / ACCESSION#: 2004.24 / MAKER: Hans Hofmann, American, born Germany, / 1880 - 1966 / TITLE/DATE: Sparks, 1957 / MEDIUM: Oil on canvas / DIMENSIONS: 60 x 48 in. (152.4 x 121.9 cm) / CREDIT: Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law"
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle] / HANS HOFFMAN / Sparks [underlined] / Oil on canvas: 60" x 48" / 1957"
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "RICE MUSEUM / TEMPORARY LOAN NO. / 57-1985-1 / Law / REC'D: 5/1/85"
Marekd on label, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle] / HANS HOFFMAN / Sparks [underlined] / Oil on canvas: 60 x 48 / 1957"
Stamped in green, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle]"
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "KOOTZ / GALLERY / NEW YORK"
See accession file for images
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle] / HANS HOFFMAN / Sparks [underlined] / Oil on canvas: 60" x 48" / 1957"
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "RICE MUSEUM / TEMPORARY LOAN NO. / 57-1985-1 / Law / REC'D: 5/1/85"
Marekd on label, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle] / HANS HOFFMAN / Sparks [underlined] / Oil on canvas: 60 x 48 / 1957"
Stamped in green, upper right corner, verso: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / 41 EAST 57 [in a circle]"
Marked on label, upper right corner, verso: "KOOTZ / GALLERY / NEW YORK"
See accession file for images
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
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