From Book News, Inc.
A collection of the German pop painter's notes, correspondence, journal entries, interviews, and public statements on exhibitions, much of it translated into English for the first time, chronicling all periods of his career and revealing his intentions, methods, and sources of his works. Includes numerous b&w photos from the artist's personal collection. Heavy paperback cover with inside flaps. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.


Book Description
"Now that we do not have priests and philosophers anymore, artists are the most important people in the world. . . . Art is wretched, cynical, stupid, helpless, confusing." -- Gerhard Richter Gerhard Richter, born in Dresden in 1932, is one of the foremost painters of his generation. A great deal has been written about the bewildering heterogeneity of his work over the past 30 years. His seemingly willful and defiant movement between abstract and figurative modes of representation and his seemingly inconsistent methods of applying paint to canvas are consistent, if nothing else, with Richter himself -- the master of the paradoxical statement. Although he has emphasized that he is first a painter and has never been a theorist, he has, throughout his career issued provocative, contentious, and memorable statements. Over seven years in preparation, this book makes available a selection of Richter's texts from all periods of his career, many translated for the first time. There are public statements about specific exhibitions, private reflections drawn from personal correspondence, answers to questions posed by critics, and excerpts from journals discussing the intentions, subjects, methods, and sources of his works from various periods. The writings are accompanied by 87 biographical illustrations of paintings from the artist's personal collection. Published in association with the Anthony d'Offay Gallery, London


Language Notes
Text: English (translation)
Original Language: German

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Gerhard Richter, born in Dresden in 1932, is one of the foremost painters of his generation. A great deal has been written about the bewildering heterogeneity of his work over the past 30 years, his seemingly willful and defiant movement between abstract and figurative modes of representation and his use of a variety of methods of applying paint to canvas. And Richter himself is the master of the paradoxical statement. Although he has emphasized that he is foremost a painter and has never been a theorist, throughout his career he has issued provocative and memorable statements. Over seven years in preparation, this book makes available a selection of Richter's texts, many translated for the first time. These texts come from all periods of his career, beginning with a letter he wrote to a film company promoting the first group show of German Pop Art in 1963, in which he was a participant. There are public statements about specific exhibitions, private reflections drawn from personal correspondence, answers to questions posed by critics, and excerpts from journals discussing the intentions, subjects, methods, and sources of his works from various periods. The writings are accompanied by 87 biographical illustrations from the artist's personal collection.

FROM THE CRITICS

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