Josef Hofer was born in Wegscheid, Austria in 1945. He never attended school. While still a child, he drew the machinery and equipment on his father's farm. In 1985, Hofer moved to an assisted living facility, and has lived at Lebenshilfe Ried i.I. since 1992. Hofer’s graphic style is unmistakeable for its forceful, slightly cramped lines. He depicts landscapes and everyday objects; in recent times, however, he has almost only drawn figures. Male nudes are embedded in a yellow-orange grid, appearing to sink into it.