William A. Hofstetter 1883-1970

William Alfred Hofstetter was born 15 July 1883 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to a family of seven children. Even as a boy, Hofstetter was constantly drawing. His dedication and obvious talent eventually led him to Drexel Institute where he studied from 1899-1902. Hofstetter followed his teacher's vigorous advice to "throw your heart into your painting and leap in after it." He learned to place a strong emphasis on sound draftmanship and a carefully conceived composition. His effort and talent were soon to pay off as he received one of Drexel's top awards in their annual exhibition in the category of "Drawing from Life." 

Upon completion of course work at Drexel, Hofstetter enrolled at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1902. Not able to afford the luxury of being a full time student, Hofstetter studied at the Academy at night and worked as a commercial artist during the day. His passion, however, remained fine art. While absorbing the sound academic traditions from the Academy, he became increasingly influenced by the antithesis of these teachings in the ideas of the French impressionists. It was the revelations of impressionism that provided the freedom Hofstetter most needed for his work. He later wrote: "a studied technique robs the artist of his true emotions, enslaves him to the academic and destroys the unexpected...."

This new awareness of light and color was to unleash his love affair with nature. His free moments from this time on were spent painting-- first in oil, then almost completely with watercolor. In watercolor, Hofstetter found a freedom and vitality not to be found in other media, and in the rugged beauty of southern New Jersey he found his subject.

This spirited and dedicated man was also productive. Hofstetter was invited to exhibit in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts' annual exhibitions for nearly forty years. He also showed in other prominent exhibitions, both locally and nationally, as well as serving on numerous juries in a variety of capacities. Throughout his long and productive career, Hofstetter's work continued to receive critical acclaim. From the catalog of the Philadelphia Art Alliance on his one man show in 1935: "In watercolor his reputation is distinguished. In this medium his subjects have been chiefly landscapes, which he presents with a boldness, brilliancy and freedom which have made his name outstanding in the field...."

Thanks largely to the efforts of his family, much of his work has survived. His solid joyfully exuberant paintings continue to invite us to enjoy the world as seen through this truly creative man. At the age of sixty-seven, upon the death of his wife in 1950, he moved in with his daughter, Elizabeth, and her husband in Wayne, Pennsylvania. For the next twenty years, until his death on 22 September 1970, Hofstetter continued to create. He remained active as an artist, but enjoyed music and writing and his grandchildren, too. He was, as Elizabeth described, "filled with expression." For those of us who did not know the man, we are grateful for, as one critic said, "the brilliant and invigorating" work he left behind.