Himalaya – Himalaya is an artwork painted by Gerhard Richter in 1968, comprising a 200 cm x 160 cm oil on canvas. Inspired by the powerful landscape of the Himalayan Mountains, the painting features a modernized take and consists of colourful stripes symbolizing mountains. The painting was first exhibited at Atlas Exhibitions, and it has since been displayed across galleries and museums worldwide.
Himalaya – Himalaya is considered to be one of Richter’s most iconic works from the late 1960s. Symbolically, it represents a transformation from classical still-life representation to abstract visualisations; which provides insight into his artistic development. By depicting traditional mountain vistas in abstract form, Richter crafted an image that acknowledges both his own perception of beauty as well as its political message – using vivid colours to signal freedom from oppression.
The painting remains one of Richter’s most popular works, continuing to inspire many new artists with its mixture of classicism and modernity. In 1966, he also painted another notable artwork entitled “Ema (Nude On A Staircase)” – an oil painting based on his wife Ema Kasemeier-Richter’s nude body clothed in white bedsheets. With this artwork series focusing on his wife’s body and her intense connection to nature, Gerhard Richter powerfully expresses a newfound sense of emotion in art that has stayed with him till this day.
