GERHARD FORTY YEARS OF PAINTING is a survey of works by German artist Gerhard Richter (born 1932), one of the most influential painters working today from every phase of Richter's career. ranging from photography-based pictures to gestural abstraction, and includes a rare interview with the artist. This was the catalog for the travelling exhibit 2002-2003 at The Museum of Modern Art, NY, the Art Institute of Chicago, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington DC. Published in 2002 by the Museum of Modern Art, NY. 340 pages.
German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, and also photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists and several of his works have set record prices at auction.
One way that people often dismiss twentieth-century art is to say that you'll never see a soldier crawling through trenches and braving enemy fire to save Damien Hirst's "Physical Impossibility" shark installation from destruction (versus a Caravaggio painting or whatever). Maybe this is true, but I think I would actually risk death to save Richter's "Betty."
Very good painter but this is pretty much just an expensive coffee table book. The book includes a good image collection. The text is disappointingly sub-par.
Gave this to roommate as a gift, fortunately read it before he moved out. Huge fan of Richter's breadth and virtuosity. Looking to pick up my own copy eventually. :)
On a recent trip to St. Louis, I was reminded of this amazing artist. I love how he blurs the line between fine painting and photography. Some of the same reasons why I enjoy Chuck Close.