Hans Hofmann
Blue Monolith

With permission of the Renate, Hans & Maria Hofmann Trust / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York

ExpandFavorite

Artist Hans Hofmann American, born Germany, 1880–1966

CultureAmerican

Titles

Blue Monolith

Date1964

PlaceNew York, United States

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions72 1/4 × 60 1/8 in. (183.5 × 152.7 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Caroline Wiess Law

Object number2004.23

Not on view

Explore Further

Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Object Type

PAINTING

ProvenanceEstate of the artist, 1966–1969; [Andre Emmerich Gallery, New York]; Private collection, 1969–1972; [André Emmerich Gallery, New York, 1972–1976]; purchased by Theodore N. Law and Caroline Wiess Law, Houston, 1976, until his d. 1989; Caroline Wiess Law, Houston, until d. 2003; bequeathed to MFAH, 2004.

Exhibition History"Hans Hofmann, Ten Major Works," André Emmerich Gallery, New York, January 6–24, 1973.

"The Great Decade of American Abstraction: Modernist Art 1960–1970," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, January 14–March 10, 1974.

"A Spirited Vision: Highlights of the Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 22–April 25, 2004.

"Acquisitions of the Last Five Years: Selections of Modern and Contemporary Art," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 15–October 15, 2005.

"Modern and Contemporary Masterworks from the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 8, 2007–March 2, 2008.

"Color into Light: Selections from the MFAH Collection," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 13, 2008–March 22, 2009.

"Art Across America," National Museum of Korea, Seoul, Korea, February 4–May 19, 2013; Daejeon Museum of Art, Daejeon, Korea, June 17–September 1, 2013.

"America: Painting a Nation," Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, November 8, 2013–February 9, 2014.

Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed in black ink on upper stretcher bar: "M952"

Inscribed in red ink on upper stretcher bar: "C-3542"

Inscribed in black ink on sticker on left stretcher bar: "GD 17 / 23"

Inscribed in black on verso upper right: "Cat 1566 / Blue monolit / oil on canvas 72 x 60 / 1964 hans hofmann"

Painted recto lower right: "hans hofmann 64"

Printed on three labels, backing board and stretcher bars: "MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / ACCESSION #: 2004.23 / MAKER: Hans Hofmann, American, born Germany, 1880 / - 1966 / TITLE/DATE: Blue Monolith, 1964 / MEDIUM: Oil on canvas / DIMENSIONS: 72 1/4 x 60 3/8 in. (183.5 x 153.4 cm) / Frame: 73 1/2 x 62 in. (186.7 x 157.5 cm) / CREDIT: Bequest of Caroline Wiess Law"

Partial label, marked in red, center stretcher bar: "The Grea... / Inaugural Exhib... / The Museum of... / Catalogue Num..."

Marked on label, center stretcher bar: "FA [in a circle] OLLENDORFF FINE ARTS / FINE ART PACKERS AND SHIPPERS / NEW YORK - SAN FRANCISCO / Lot No. / 4257 [inscribed in red ink] / Piece No. / 19 [inscribed in red ink]"

Marked on label, stretcher bar: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC 41 EAST 57 [in a circle] / HANS HOFMANN / Blue Monolit [underlined] / Oil on canvas: 72" x 60" / 1964"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.