Early Life, Family and Training Born in Mannheim, Germany, on 8 September 1838, Karl Hoff entered a world shaped by the steady, practical industry of his father, Carl, who worked as a confectioner. While his domestic surroundings were rooted in the trade of sweets, Karl’s own inclinations leaned toward the visual arts. This early divergence from the family business set the stage for a life dedicated to the canvas, eventually leading h…