Artist
Hans Hofmann American, born Germany, 1880–1966
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Fiat Lux
Date1963
PlaceNew York, New York, United States
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions72 × 60 in. (182.9 × 152.4 cm)
Credit LineMuseum purchase funded by Mrs. William Stamps Farish, Sr., by exchange
Object number81.30
Current Location
The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building
Gallery 203
On view
Explore Further
Department
Modern and Contemporary ArtObject Type
a painting we can see the whole world,”
a principle exemplified by the exuberant
canvases that dominated the last decade of
his career. Fiat Lux (“Let there be light”)
demonstrates the radiance that Hofmann
brought to these late paintings. The center
of the composition explodes with a generative
burst of vibrant yellow, and the entire
surface is energized by the artist’s dynamic
color contrasts and expressive brushwork.
Hofmann was also an inspiring teacher;
Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, and Joan
Mitchell were among his many students.
Provenance[Robert Miller Gallery, New York]; purchased by MFAH, 1981.
Exhibition History"Hans Hofmann, Ten Major Works," André Emmerich Gallery, Inc., New York, January 11–30, 1969.
"Hans Hoffman," Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, June 20–September 16, 1990; Center for Fine Arts, Miami, November 22, 1990–January 20, 1991; The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Virginia, February 14–April 16, 1991.
"Texas Collects Willem de Kooning and His Contemporaries," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, March 19–May 21, 1995.
"Art at Midcentury: Spotlight on the Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, April 13–September 3, 2001.
"Color into Light: Selections from the MFAH Collection," The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, December 13, 2008–March 22, 2009.
"Hans Hofmann: Magnus Opus," Museum Pfalzgalerie Kaiserslautern, Germany, March 8–June 16, 2013.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
Inscribed in black on verso, upper right corner: "Fiat Lux (let there be light) / 1963 / 72 x 60 / Hans Hofmann"
See accession file for images
See accession file for images
Signed, recto lower right corner of canvas in blue: "hans hofmann / 63"
Typed on label, verso: "THE NEW AMERICAN LANDSCAPE: / Selections from the Museum Collection / THE HEROIC YEARS / EXH#: 19 / ACC#: 81.030 / HANS HOFMANN / German, 1880 - 1966 / Fiat Lux / 1963 / Oil on canvas / Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William Stamps Farish by exchange / 72 x 60""
Typed on label, verso: "Texas Collects Willem de Kooning & His / Contemporaries / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / March 19, 1995 - May 21, 1995 / 81.30 / Fiat Lux, 1963 / Hofmann, Hans / oil on canvas / Gift of Mrs. William Stamps Farish, Sr. / by exchange"
Marked on label, verso: "THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / 1001 BISSONNET P.O. BOX 6826 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77265 / LN:90.18 / ACC:81.30 / HANS HOFMANN, Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / Oil on canvas, 72 x 60 in. (image), 73 3/8 x / 61 3/8 in. (frame) / CREDIT LINE: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; / Gift of Mrs. William Stamps Farish, / by exchange"
Marked on label, verso: "Whitney Museum of American Art / 945 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10021 / HH.90.244.1 / Hans Hofmann / Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / Oil on canvas / 72 x 60" / Collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, / Houston / HANS HOFFMAN / Whitney Museum of American Art, 20 June - 16 Sept. 1990 / Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, Nov. 1990 - Jan. 1991 / The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Feb. - April, 1991"
Marked on label, verso: "THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / 1001 BISSONNET P.O. BOX 6826 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77265 / MODERN AMERICAN PAINTINGS: THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / September 20 - November 7, 1982 / National Pinakothiki, Athens / # 24 [inscribed in ink] / artist: HANS HOFMANN (ACC:81.30) (A.39) / title: Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / medium: oil on canvas / lender: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / Box: #6 [inscribed in red ink] 29 [inscribed in pencil]"
Typed on label, verso: "HOFMANN / OBJ. 60 / BOX 24"
Labels on stretchers from:
MoMA
Hirshhorn
Kootz Gallery
Santini Galleris
Stamped, top stretcher: Robert Miller Gallery
See accession file for images
Typed on label, verso: "Texas Collects Willem de Kooning & His / Contemporaries / Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / March 19, 1995 - May 21, 1995 / 81.30 / Fiat Lux, 1963 / Hofmann, Hans / oil on canvas / Gift of Mrs. William Stamps Farish, Sr. / by exchange"
Marked on label, verso: "THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / 1001 BISSONNET P.O. BOX 6826 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77265 / LN:90.18 / ACC:81.30 / HANS HOFMANN, Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / Oil on canvas, 72 x 60 in. (image), 73 3/8 x / 61 3/8 in. (frame) / CREDIT LINE: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston; / Gift of Mrs. William Stamps Farish, / by exchange"
Marked on label, verso: "Whitney Museum of American Art / 945 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10021 / HH.90.244.1 / Hans Hofmann / Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / Oil on canvas / 72 x 60" / Collection of The Museum of Fine Arts, / Houston / HANS HOFFMAN / Whitney Museum of American Art, 20 June - 16 Sept. 1990 / Center for the Fine Arts, Miami, Nov. 1990 - Jan. 1991 / The Chrysler Museum, Norfolk, Feb. - April, 1991"
Marked on label, verso: "THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / 1001 BISSONNET P.O. BOX 6826 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77265 / MODERN AMERICAN PAINTINGS: THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON / September 20 - November 7, 1982 / National Pinakothiki, Athens / # 24 [inscribed in ink] / artist: HANS HOFMANN (ACC:81.30) (A.39) / title: Fiat Lux [underlined], 1963 / medium: oil on canvas / lender: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston / Box: #6 [inscribed in red ink] 29 [inscribed in pencil]"
Typed on label, verso: "HOFMANN / OBJ. 60 / BOX 24"
Labels on stretchers from:
MoMA
Hirshhorn
Kootz Gallery
Santini Galleris
Stamped, top stretcher: Robert Miller Gallery
See accession file for images
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
