The artwork titled “Arrest No.674 1” was created by the artist Gerhard Richter in 1988. It belongs to the “New European Painting” movement and is classified under the figurative genre. This piece is part of Richter’s series “18. Oktober 1977,” which momentously reflects on the events surrounding the German left-wing militant group known as the Red Army Faction (RAF).
In the artwork, the viewer is confronted with a complex and blurred scene. The lack of clarity and softened detail suggest a sense of motion or disruption, which is characteristic of Richter’s style during this period. The monochromatic palette enhances the ambiguity and evocative nature of the piece, while invoking a haunting and emotional response. The technique employed by Richter, often involving the application of paint with a squeegee, adds to the photograph-like but distorted quality of the work. The artwork captures a moment in time, simultaneously revealing and concealing the subjects within it, provoking audiences to engage with the historical and emotional implications of the image.
