One of three artists called "Almshouse Painters," Charles Hofmann did minutely detailed views of these types of Pennsylvania institutions, the only types of homes he appears to have had. Minimal information has been found about him except for paupers' registers listing "intemperance" as the cause for his poverty. His skill in detailing and appearance of the word lithograph in one of his works suggest training in graphics.

He was born in Germany, but the exact place remains unknown. He emigrated in 1860 to the United States, and it is surmised that he left Germany because artisans such as himself were no longer protected by guilds and could not compete with factory-made products. Like many Germans coming to America at that time, he se...