Von Hofmann studied in Dresden, Karlsruhe and Paris, and belonged to the Group of XI, later the Berlin Secession. Artistically he could not be classified easily as he painted in different styles. Some of his works were considered “degenerate” by the Nazis, while others were acceptable to the Reich. (http://books0977.tumblr.com/post/145241691877/newspaper-reading-1890-1893-ludwig-von-hofmann)