Goliath

Goliath
by Hans Hofmann, 1960

How would you describe what you see here to a friend?

Do you think this is a painting of something? If so, what?

What kind of music does this painting make you think of?

Listen to these samples of music and decide which one you like best with the painting:
(To play the music, click on the triangles)

Hip Hop

Jazz

Classical

Central African

This painting has the illusion of depth. Even though it's really just paint on a flat surface, there seems to be space between the different shapes in the picture.

What seems to be in the foreground,or closest to you: the squares and rectangles, or the swirling areas of color?

How do you know what is closer and what is farther away?

The squares in Hofmann's painting appear to be closer to us, while the swirling background appears to be farther away. This is because the squares are painted on top in solid colors. It's almost as if the squares are standing in front of the swirling colors, blocking them from our view.

If you get up and step back from your computer screen, you might feel as if those squares and rectangles are jumping out at you! The farther away you get, the more they seem to float right off the painting. So many parts of this painting -- the different colors and shapes -- seem to want your attention at the same time. This is what makes Hans Hofmann's painting so exciting to look at.

This painting by Hans Hofmann is abstract. Abstract paintings don't look like pictures of things from the real world. They are made of colors, shapes, and lines that express beauty, energy, and movement all by themselves -- even without looking like scenes from the world around us. Abstract paintings can also express feelings.

How does this painting make you feel? Send us your reactions to Hans Hofmann's painting.