Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Gerhard Richter

Quote by Gerhard Richter

Work

Gerhard Richter: text : writings, interviews and letters, 1961-2007

The volume includes a selection of Richter's personal and professional correspondence, as well as his reflections on his artistic practice and thoughts on various aspects of art and life. It offers insight into the evolution of Richter's artistic philosophy and his approach to creating his renowned works. more

Author

Gerhard Richter
Gerhard Richter

German visual artist known for his unique painting style and diverse creative techniques. Richter's works span a wide range of styles from abstraction to figuration, and his career has spanned over half a century, profoundly influencing contemporary art. more

You May Also Like

“I began in 1976, with small abstract paintings that allowed me to do what I had never let myself do: put something down at random. And then, of course, I realized that it never can be random. It was all a way of opening a door for me. If I don't know what's coming - that is, if I have no hard-and-fast image, as I have with a photographic original - then arbitrary choice and chance play an important part.”

IfsKnowsWayArtImportantHardPlayChoicesCoursesChanceDoorsPaintingOriginalsI RealizedOpeningAbstractArbitraryAbstract Painting
Book:Gerhard Richter: writings 1961-2007
Create image

“What attracted me about my mirrors was the idea of having nothing manipulated in them. A piece of bought mirror. Just hung there, without any addition, to operate immediately and directly. Even at the risk of being boring. Mere demonstration. The mirrors, and even more the Panes of Glass, were also certainly directed against Duchamp, against his Large Glass.”

ArtIdeasPiecesRiskPaintingMirrorsMereGlassesBoringHungDemonstration
Book:Gerhard Richter: text : writings, interviews and letters, 1961-2007
Create image

“I started doing 'figures', then, one day, all of a sudden, I started doing abstraction. And then I started doing both. But it was never really a conscious decision. It was simply a question of desire. In fact, I really prefer making figurative work, but the figure is difficult. So to work around the difficulty I take a break and paint abstractly. Which I really like, by the way, because it allows me to make beautiful paintings.”

WayArtFactsBeautifulDesireDifficultDecisionBreakFiguresPaintingOne DayConsciousDifficultyPaintAbstractionBeautiful Paintings
Author:Gerhard Richter
Create image

“My method is related to an attempt to do something that might be understood by today's world, or that could at least provide understanding. In other words, doing something I understand and that everyone understands. This natural desire for communication is also found in other domains, like reading and discourse, etc. I also hate repeating myself; it gives me no pleasure whatsoever. Once I've understood something, I need to start off on new ground.”

WorldNeedsGivingArtMightTodayDesireHateReadingFoundUnderstandingNaturalPleasurePaintingCommunicationUnderstoodGive MeMethodRelatedEtcDiscourseDomainToday's World
Author:Gerhard Richter
Create image