Titled “Stukas,” this artwork by Gerhard Richter was created in 1964 and is part of the “Aeroplanes (1963-1964)” series. The piece belongs to the New European Painting art movement and is classified under the figurative genre.
The artwork presents a monochromatic depiction of several Stuka dive bombers in flight. The planes are shown from various angles, suggesting movement and an aerial perspective. The semi-abstract style, combined with the blurred contours of the aircraft, evokes a sense of historical documentation through the lens of memory and interpretation. The muted, grayscale palette contributes to the somber, almost photographic quality of the composition. The precision and realism in the planes’ forms are juxtaposed with the indistinct, atmospheric background, creating a powerful visual narrative.
