Yes, It was Hans Hofmann.  There's a reference to it in  my Wm. Seitz' catalog 
re Hofmann's show at MOMA in 1963. I saw that show.  I also recall Hans Hofmann 
saying something similar to me in Sept. 1965 in Provincetown when I had a nice 
conversation with him.  It's one of his most famous sayings, perhaps second 
only to "push and pull".

WC

--- On Sun, 9/28/08, William Conger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> From: William Conger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: Marks on Canvas
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 5:08 PM
> Hans Hofmann.
> 
> WC
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --- On Sun, 9/28/08, imago Asthetik
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> 
> > From: imago Asthetik <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Subject: Marks on Canvas
> > To: [email protected]
> > Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 4:41 PM
> > Could someone help me identify this (no doubt badly)
> > paraphrased motto:
> > 
> > The first mark on a canvas is actually the fifth
> > 
> > I know the original utterance belongs to an AbEx
> painter (I
> > am tempted to
> > say, Rothko, but I have no idea where that association
> > comes from), and that
> > Mr Conger has uttered it here on the forum.  If anyone
> > knows of a reference
> > to it in print, I would be very grateful.
> > 
> > Many thanks,
> > 
> > IMAGO

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