Early Life, Family and Training Gaston Hoffmann entered the world on January 12, 1883, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, France. His beginnings were marked by a certain mystery, as he was born to Rosalie Hoffmann, while the identity of his father remained unknown. This early chapter of his life set the stage for a man who would eventually master many different forms of visual expression, from the delicate precision of engraving to the broad strokes of painting. His formal education began in earnest in 1902 when he entered the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris. It was here that his talent beg…