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Awareness Post: Gerhard Richter

  • elenagloy
  • Dec 13, 2023
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 12, 2024


Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) is a German visual artist known for his diverse range of artistic styles and subject matter. Here are some basic facts about Richter, his representation, CV highlights, as well as articles, images, and videos of his artworks:



Website:


Gallery Representation:


CV Highlights:

  • Richter studied at the Kunstakademie Dresden and later became a master student of Karl von Appen.

  • In 1961, Richter escaped from East to West Germany, settling in Düsseldorf.

  • He became known for his photorealistic paintings in the 1960s using blurred and abstracted imagery.

  • Richter was associated with the Capitalist Realism movement alongside artists such as Sigmar Polke.

  • He introduced the concept of "photopainting," using photographs as sources for his works.

  • Richter has created a series of abstract paintings, including his famous "Color Charts" and "Abstract Paintings."

  • Among his notable series are the "October 18, 1977" paintings based on press photographs of the Baader-Meinhof gang.


Articles, Images, and Videos:

1. Article: "Gerhard Richter: The Tragedy of Form"

"I blur things to make everything equally important and equally unimportant. I blur things so that they do not look artistic or craftsmanlike but technological, smooth and perfect. I blur things to make all the parts a closer fit. Perhaps I also blur out the excess of unimportant information"

  • Reaction: I like how Richter's work blurs the boundaries between representation and abstraction. His exploration of form and his willingness to engage with different styles and techniques are inspiring.


2. Image: "Abstract Painting" (1986)


- Label: "Abstract Painting," 1986, Oil on canvas, 82.5 x 57.5 cm

- Reaction: This painting fascinates me with its bold brushwork and vibrant colors. The layering of paint and texture gives it a sense of energy and movement.


3. Video: "Gerhard Richter Discusses his Abstract Paintings"

-Reaction: Richter's insights into his abstract paintings provide a deeper understanding of his artistic process. I'm inspired by his ability to create dynamic and expressive works through a combination of intuition and experimentation.


Overall, Gerhard Richter's ability to continuously reinvent his artistic practice and explore various styles and subjects makes him a significant figure in contemporary art. His willingness to push boundaries and challenge traditional notions of representation and abstraction has influenced my own experimentation with different techniques and concepts in my work. I love how his style has evolved and it is clear that he has painted for himself and his own growth rather than the enjoyment of others.

Betty, 1988

Betty is a portrait of sorts, painted from a photograph of the artist’s daughter posed, like Ingres’ The Bather at Valpinçon, 1808, so that she is looking away from the viewer. It is oil on canvas, about life size, and so far as I know it’s Richter’s only color painting of a figure.

 
 
 

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