The landscape-format painting Volker Bradke depicts a young man with horn-rimmed glasses, wearing a patterned shirt and a jacket. With a light smile on his lips, he looks past the viewer. In contrast to this, an older man and a girl in the middle distance look directly at the beholder, underlining the snapshot character of the image. Further passers-by stand or sit in front of a stone wall in the background.

The young Volker Bradke, portrayed here in larger than life size, sought to make connections in the Düsseldorf art scene of 1966, and could be found at numerous private views or art events. The photographic source image was taken by Gerhard Richter himself, at an art festival in Büdingen.

The picture was the starting point for a whole exhibition with Volker Bradke as its subject and was part of Hommage à Schmela at Galerie Schmela, Düsseldorf. The series of exhibitions took place before the gallery moved to another location and comprised one-day shows by several artists – Joseph Beuys, Konrad Lueg and Sigmar Polke, amongst others.

Gerhard Richter's Volker Bradke exhibition took place on 13th December 1966. On a floral wallpaper installed by Konrad Lueg, Richter displayed not only the painting but also around 30 photographs, a banner and a film, all focusing on Volker Bradke.

The principle of blurring – executed here by Richter in his characteristic manner – is apparent in the blurred photographs and is also transferred into the medium of film.

For Gerhard Richter and his artist friends, Volker Bradke embodied the conformist man in the street, who the artist lifts out of normality by representing him in a large-scale oil painting, in accordance with the ideas of Pop Art.

In the exhibition this approach is raised to the level of the staging of a personality cult: paintings, photographs, banner and film are dedicated to one person. However, in this case this staged “cult” does not refer to any famous person, but to the unknown Volker Bradke. Gerhard Richter challenges the meaning of the adoration of such so-called icons and unmasks the superficiality of celebrity culture.

Notes prepared by editorial team

This artwork is based on an image included in Atlas:

This Atlas sheet includes the source images of the following works:

This artwork is included in the following publications:

		Title		Author		Date
Issue 01 January 2016 Publisher Routledge, Abingdon Details Hardback, 244 pages ISBN 9781472409560 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 85 Discussed: pp. 67-68		The Artwork of Gerhard Richter. Painting, critical theory and cultural transformation		Ansted, Darryn edit		2016
Issue 01 January 2015 Publisher Deutscher Verlag, Berlin Details 480 pages ISBN 9783422073111 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 346		The Düsseldorf Art Academy. Making History since 1945		Kunstakademie Düsseldorf edit		2015
Issue 01 January 2014 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern Editor Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas Details Hardback, 337 pages ISBN 9783775735193 ISBN 3775735194 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 76, 131 The publication Gerhard Richter. Editions 1965 – 2013 updates the catalogue raisonné of his editions that was published ten years earlier. This book includes additionally 35 new and hitherto unknown works ... More Details		Gerhard Richter: Editions 1965-2013		Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas edit		2014
Issue 01 January 2014 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern Editor Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas Details Hardback, 337 pages ISBN 9783775735186 ISBN 3775735186 Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 77, 130 The publication Gerhard Richter. Editionen 1965 – 2013 updates the catalogue raisonné of his editions that was published ten years earlier. This book includes additionally 35 new and hitherto unknown works ... More Details		Gerhard Richter: Editionen 1965-2013		Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas edit		2014
Issue 01 January 2012 Publisher Édition du Centre Pompidou, Paris Editor Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille Details Hardback, 304 pages ISBN 978-2844265746 ISBN 284426574X Language French English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 43 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Panorama, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France, 2012		Gerhard Richter, Panorama: une rétrospective = a retrospective		Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine edit		2012
Issue 01 January 2012 Publisher Prestel, München Editor Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille Details Hardback, 305 pages ISBN 9783791351896 Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 43 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Panorama, Neue und Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2012		Gerhard Richter: Panorama: Retrospektive		Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine edit		2012
Issue 01 January 2011 Publisher Hirmer Verlag, München Details Hardback, 214 pages ISBN 9783777434513 Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 202 Discussed: pp. 83-87 Illustrated: p. 147, 202 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Images of an Era, Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg, Germany, 2011  Gerhard Richter. Bilder einer Epoche was published on the occasion of the exhibition at Bucerius Kunstforum in Hamburg in 2011. Both the exhibition and the catalogue focus on Richter’s paintings of the 1960s ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Bilder einer Epoche		Schneede, Uwe M. / Butin, Hubertus / Elger, Dietmar / Rübel, Dietmar / Westheider, Ortrud edit		2011
Issue 01 January 2011 Publisher Hirmer Publishers, Munich copublished by Heni Publishing, London and Marian Goodman Gallery, New York, NY and Paris Details Hardback, 214 pages ISBN 9783777450018 Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 83-87, 202 Illustrated: p. 147, 202 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Images of an Era, Bucerius Kunst Forum, Hamburg, Germany, 2011  Gerhard Richter. Images of an Era was published on the occasion of the exhibition at Bucerius Kunstforum in Hamburg in 2011. Both the exhibition and the catalogue focus on Richter’s paintings of the 1960s ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Images of an Era		Schneede, Uwe M. / Butin, Hubertus / Elger, Dietmar / Rübel, Dietmar / Westheider, Ortrud edit		2011
Issue 01 January 2009 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Hardback, 176 pages ISBN 9783832191542 Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 116, 171 Illustrated: p. 118 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK, 2009  The catalogue of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, London in 2009 focuses on Richter's portraiture. ... More Details		Die Porträts von Gerhard Richter		Moorhouse, Paul edit		2009
Issue 01 January 2009 Publisher National Portrait Gallery Publications, London Details Hardback, 176 pages ISBN 9781855143975 Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 116, 171 Illustrated: p. 118 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Portraits, National Portrait Gallery, London, UK, 2009  The catalogue of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Portraits at the National Portrait Gallery, London in 2009 focuses on Richter's portraiture. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Portraits. Painting Appearances		Moorhouse, Paul edit		2009
Issue 01 January 2009 Publisher University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL Details Hardback, 408 pages ISBN 9780226203232 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 68, 126, 133, 221, 367 Discussed: pp. 111-112 Gerhard Richter has been widely regarded as a publicity shy artist. However, the biography Gerhard Richter. A Life in Painting gives an insight into Richter’s personal history as well as into the development of his artistic œuvre. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. A Life in Painting		Elger, Dietmar edit		2009
Issue 01 January 2008 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Softcover, 415 pages ISBN 9783832190651 Language German Category Monographs Notes Corrected and extended new edition. Artwork Mentioned: pp. 147, 246, 399 Discussed: pp. 135 Gerhard Richter has been widely regarded as a publicity shy artist. However, the biography Gerhard Richter, Maler gives an insight into Richter’s personal history as well as into the development of his artistic œuvre. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter, Maler		Elger, Dietmar edit		2008
Issue 01 January 2006 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 224 pages ISBN 9783775717243 Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 70, 252 Illustrated: p. 184-185 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Portraits, Museumsberg Flensburg, Flensburg, Germany, 2006  Gerhard Richter. Portraits is the first publication that focuses solely on Richter’s portraits, many of which have now gained both recognition and veneration across the globe. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Portraits		Gronert, Stefan / Butin, Hubertus edit		2006
Issue 01 January 2006 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 224 pages ISBN 9783775717250 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 69, 78, 253 Illustrated: p. 184-185 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Portraits, Museumsberg Flensburg, Flensburg, Germany, 2006  Gerhard Richter. Portraits is the first publication that focuses solely on Richter’s portraits, many of which have now gained both recognition and veneration across the globe. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Portraits		Gronert, Stefan / Butin, Hubertus edit		2006
Issue 01 January 2002 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Hardback, 420 pages ISBN 9783832158484 Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 90, 163, 274, 444 Discussed: pp. 148, 149 Gerhard Richter has been widely regarded as a publicity shy artist. However, the biography Gerhard Richter, Maler gives an insight into Richter’s personal history as well as into the development of his artistic œuvre. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter, Maler		Elger, Dietmar edit		2002
Issue 01 January 1990 Publisher Generalitat de Catalunya. Departament de Cultural, Barcelona Details Softcover, 139 pages Language German Spanish Catalan Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 95 Illustrated: p. 20 (colour) Exhibitions Artistes de Colònia: allò bell, allò sinistre, Centre d'Art Santa Mònica, Barcelona, Spain, 1990		Artistes de Colònia. Allò bell, allò sinistre		Stals, José Lebrero / Graw, Isabelle / Meinhardt, Johannes edit		1990
Issue 01 January 1989 Publisher Verlag Fred Jahn, München Details Hardback, 236 pages Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 11, 17 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Atlas of Photographs, Collages and Sketches, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany, 1989  Gerhard Richter: Atlas of Photographs, Collages and Sketches, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany, 1989		Gerhard Richter: Atlas		Zweite, Armin edit		1989
Issue 01 January 1986 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Softcover, 402 pages ISBN 3770117727 Language German English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 18, 365 Illustrated: p. 56 (b/w) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1962–1985, Museum moderner Kunst/Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts, Vienna, Austria, 1986  Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1963–1986, Kunsthalle Bern, Bern, Switzerland, 1986  Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1962–1985, Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 1986  Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1962–1985, Städtische Kunsthalle Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1986		Gerhard Richter. Bilder = Paintings 1962 - 1985		Harten, Jürgen / Hering, Karl-Heinz / Honisch, Dieter / Loock, Ulrich / Ronte, Dieter / Elger, Dietmar edit		1986
Issue 01 January 1978 Publisher Nationalgalerie Berlin, Staatliche Museen Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Berlin Details Softcover, 144 pages ISBN 3496010037 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 135 (b/w) Exhibitions Aspects of the 1960s: The Reinhard Onnasch Collection, Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 1978		Aspekte der 60er Jahre. Aus der Sammlung Reinhard Onnasch		Honisch, Dieter / Onnasch, Reinhard / Lindenberg, Ilona edit		1978
Issue 01 January 1972 Publisher Museum Folkwang, Essen Details Hardback, 154 pages Language Italian German English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 39 Illustrated: p. 52 (b/w) Exhibitions 36th Venice Biennale, German Pavilion, Venice, Italy, 1972		Gerhard Richter. 36. Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione tedesco = 36. Biennale in Venedig, Deutscher Pavilion = 36. Biennale in Venice, German Pavilion		Honisch, Dieter / Helms, Dietrich / Honnef, Klaus / Ohff, Heinz / Dienst, Rolf Gunther / Schön, Rolf / Polke, Sigmar edit		1972
Issue 01 January 1971 Publisher Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf Details Softcover, 136 pages Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 12 Illustrated: p. 33 (b/w) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1962 to 1971, Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1971		Gerhard Richter. Arbeiten 1962-1971		Hering, Karl-Heinz / Helms, Dietrich edit		1971
Issue 01 January 1967 Publisher Haus am Waldsee, Berlin Details Softcover, 40 pages Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 18 Exhibitions New Realism: 16 German Painters, Galerie Osterweil, Hamburg, Germany, 1967  New Realism: 16 German Painters, Kunstverein Braunschweig, Haus Salve Hospes, Braunschweig, Germany, 1967  New Realism: 16 German Painters, Haus am Waldsee, Berlin, Germany, 1967		Neuer Realismus. Baehr, Berges, Diehl, Dornehge, Froese, Hiesserer, Hödicke, Köthe, Krüll, Lausen, Lueg, Petrick, Polke, Richter, Sorge, Wintersberger		Ohff, Heinz edit		1967

This artwork is shown or mentioned in the following videos:

Exhibitions Images of an Era Uwe M. Schneede 2011   edit