Ludwig von Hofmann, German 1861-1945
Horses and Riders by the Water, c.1908

£6,250

Watercolour on paper
Signed with monogram (lower left)
31cm x 24cm, (52cm x 44cm framed)

Ludwig von Hofmann was a important German painter and graphic artist who served as a bridge between German Impressionism and Art Nouveau (Jugendstil). His work is best known for its dreamlike, Arcadian quality, often featuring nude figures in timeless, idyllic landscapes. After initially studying in Dresden and Karlsruhe, he attend the Académie Julian in Paris and was deeply influenced by the French Symbolist Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and the vibrant color palettes of the Post-Impressionists. In 1903, he was appointed a professor at the Weimar Saxon Grand Ducal Art School, and in 1916, he was named a professor at the academy in Dresden, where he remained until 1931. His work is included in many public collections, both in Germany and internationally.

Hofmann’s work is most notable for its profound and pervasive homoerotic subtext. At a time when European society was grappling with rigid moral codes, his pictures offered a sanctuary for the male gaze. His compositions frequently center on slender, ephemeral young men—often nude or semi-clad—engaged in leisurely pursuits like bathing, dancing, or lounging in sun-drenched landscapes.