Oracle

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

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Artist Hans Hofmann (American, born Germany, 1880–1966)American, born Germany, 1880–1966

CultureAmerican

Titles

Oracle

Date1959

PlaceNew York, United States

MediumOil on panel

DimensionsPanel: 60 × 48 in. (152.4 × 121.9 cm)
Frame: 61 1/8 × 49 1/8 × 1 3/4 in. (155.2 × 124.7 × 4.4 cm)

Credit LineBequest of Hugo V. Neuhaus, Jr.

Object number2025.807

Not on view

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Department

Modern and Contemporary Art

Object Type

PAINTING

ProvenanceEstate of the artist (1966–1974); [André Emmerich Gallery, New York]; [Pace Gallery, New York]; Hugo V. Neuhaus, Jr., Houston (1974–1987); Hugo V. Neuhaus, Jr. Trust, 1987–2025; given to the MFAH, 2025.
Exhibition HistoryHans Hofmann, Paintings of 1959. New York, Kootz Gallery, January 6–24.

Hans Hofmann: Ten Major Works. New York: André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., January 6–24, 1973.

American Painters of the 1950s. New York: Pace Gallery, February 9–March 12, 1974.

Hans Hofmann: A Retrospective Exhibition. Washington, DC: The Hirschhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Oct 14, 1976–January 2, 1977; Houston: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, February 4–April 3, 1977.

Published References Bannard, Walter Darby. Hans Hofmann. Houston: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1976, cat. no. 42, p. 83, illustrated. Emmerich, André. Hans Hofmann: Ten Major Works. New York: André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., 1973, n.p., illustrated. Hofmann, Hans, Hans Hofmann, Paintings of 1959. New York, Kootz Gallery, 1960, n.p., illustrated. Kuh, Katharine, The Artist’s Voice: Talks with Seventeen Artists, New York: Harper & Row, 1962, p. 121, pl. 54, illustrated. Villiger, Suzi, Karen Wilkin, et al., Hans Hofmann: Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings, Volume III: 1952–1965. Surrey, England: Lund Humphries, 2014, cat. no. P1175, p. 210, illustrated. Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Inscribed in graphite on the verso upper right: "Cat #0511/59 / Oracle / 60 x 48 / 1959 / Oil on Epson boord (sic) / hans hofmann"

Inscribed in marker on stretcher, left side bar, top corner: "M-1/ C-3351"

Signed in paint, recto lower right: "hans hofmann/ 59"

Marked on label on stretcher, upper left corner: "TR: 430-92-1 / TR: 1044-99 [inscribed in red ink] / Olive Neuhaus"

Stamped on stretcher, left side bar, top corner: "ANDRE EMMERICH GALLERY INC / NEW YORK [in a circle]"

Marked on label on stretcher, left side bar, top corner: "KOOTZ / GALLERY / NEW YORK"

Marked on label on stretcher, left side bar, center: "DAY & MEYER / MURRAY & YOUNG / FLOOR ROOM PIECE / Emmerich Gallery / 13450 / 59 [last 3 lines inscribed in blue ink]"

Marked on label on stretcher, center bar, center: "ANDRE EMMERICH / 41 E 57 NEW YORK 10022 [in a circle] / HANS HOFMANN / Oracle [underlined] / 1959 / Oil on panel: 60" x 48" "

Marked on label on stretcher, top bar, center: "HIRSHHORN MUSEUM AND SCULPTURE GARDEN / Smithsonian Institution / EXHIBITION: HANS HOFMANN / October 14, 1976 - January 2, 1977 / ARTIST: Hans Hofmann / TITLE: Oracle. [underlined] / LENDER: Private Collection. / MUSEUM NO.: 345.76 Cat. # 42"

Marked on blue label, proper right edge of frame: "HOFMANN ORACLE"

Catalogue raisonnéVilliger, Suzi, Hans Hofmann: Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings, Volume III: 1952–1965, cat. no. P1175, p. 210, illustrated.

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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