Hofmann painted the boy Jesus three times. This 1884 version, now in Hamburg, brings us right up to the table. Jesus stands in white among the bearded teachers, one hand open as He explains, and the old men lean in.

Luke says “all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” Hofmann puts that astonishment on every face: one man strokes his chin, another frowns over the scroll, another simply stares.