One of Gerhard Richter’s renowned artworks is “48 Portraits,” created in 1971-72. This collection of portraits was based on black and white photographic images of influential European and North American men of letters, philosophers, and scientists found in encyclopedias and dictionaries. The exhibition showcased not only the portraits but also family snapshots and Richter’s “color chart” paintings. Richter collaborated with Palermo on three paintings, and the exhibition featured 82 works.
Richter is regarded as one of the most significant living contemporary artists, having represented Germany at the 1972 Venice Biennale. “Painting After All” is an exhibit exploring his six-decade-long preoccupation with representation and abstraction. Among the notable works included in the exhibit were “Vermalung” (1971) and “Grau” (1971).
“48 Portraits” features “Betty,” a portrait based on a 1978 photograph of Richter’s daughter. The collection dealt with representation and abstraction, highlighting the connection between photography and painting. The exhibition demonstrated Richter’s ability to capture the essence of his subjects by fusing imagery and the emotional response that they elicit. Overall, the work demonstrated Richter’s unique vision and contribution to contemporary art.
