What Is Gerhard Richter’s Work Like?

Gerhard Richter (born February 9, 1932) is a German visual artist. He was born in Dresden and grew up in Lower Silesia and the Zittau Mountains. He studied at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. The artist rose to greatest fame in the 1980s, after the fall of the Berlin Wall. During that time, he created Germany’s most famous abstract compositions.

His early oil paintings were inspired by nature. Later, he became fascinated by photorealism. He used oil on canvas to create some of his best-known works, including portraits of his daughter and wife (shown below), his wife reading a newspaper, and even an event that shook the entire world: the fall of the Twin Towers. Movement is a defining feature of his work, along with a distinctive, modern style.

His works are captivating. Art lovers have embraced his large-scale studies of photographic effects. The blurred effect is a kind of photographic impressionism, in which parts of photorealistic images are blurred and softened. This technique reveals the true skill of Richter’s painting hand.

With oil paints, he achieves fascinating, subtle color transitions and remarkable realism. This celebrated artist likes to experiment and seek a balance between realism and abstraction. That is why his abstract works are also a true delight for the eye.

It is this use of light and technique that makes his work a pillar of modern art.

What Oil Paints Does Richter Use in His Work?

Did you know that Gerhard Richter likes to paint with Solo Goya oil paints by the German brand Kreul? Why did he choose these paints? German manufacturers take care to mix all the ingredients precisely.

This process is repeated up to 7 times because the individual ingredients are difficult to combine with the pigment in oil paints. Once the desired consistency is reached, the oil paints are left to rest and mature for 3 months. Quality paints are an essential foundation for every artist.

Gerhard Richter also came to love this range of oil paints, which is growing in popularity not only in Germany, but also in France and other art communities across Europe and beyond.

Another great feature of these popular paints is their so-called buttery consistency. They mix very well with one another. This makes it possible to mix a truly wide range of original shades with a relatively small palette of paints. They can be applied straight from the tube, leaving room to experiment with techniques. Gerhard also loves their exceptional pigmentation. They work well for underpainting, painting in thin layers, or simply any way you choose. Once dry, they are bright and rich. With a palette of 52 shades, even the most demanding painters will find what they are looking for.

So what is behind Gerhard Richter’s success?

- takes care when choosing oil paints

- was not afraid of the transformation every artist must go through

- the courage to follow his own path in his art

- works on himself and pays attention to details

- innovates and experiments

Wishing you lots of inspiration as you paint, the ARTMiE team.