Gerhard Richter

Abstraktes Bild [Abstract Painting]

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About this artwork

Richter's lusciously coloured, abstract paintings appear to be in the tradition of both American Abstract Expressionism and German expressionist painting. However, the artist undermines the heroic and emotive tendencies of these styles by painting in a detached and mechanical manner. Richter's abstract paintings relate to a series of works in which he paints images from photographs but blurs them slightly to remove the focus from their composition and subject matter. This painting has been created by dragging a board over the canvas to smear the paint and reveal the layers underneath. In other words, he 'blurs' what he himself has painted.

Updated before 2020

  • artist:
    Gerhard Richter (born 1932) German
  • title:
    Abstraktes Bild [Abstract Painting]
  • date created:
    1994
  • materials:
    Oil paint on canvas
  • measurements:
    230.00 x 204.80 x 7.50 cm
  • object type:
  • credit line:
    ARTIST ROOMS National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. Acquired jointly through The d'Offay Donation with assistance from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and Art Fund, 2008
  • accession number:
    AR00027
  • gallery:
  • subject:
  • glossary:
  • artwork photographed by:
    Antonia Reeve
This artwork is part of Artist Rooms
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Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter