In contrast to the aerial photographs, some of which depict entire areas of towns, the townscapes are from a shorter distance, having been based on photographs of architectural models. Gerhard Richter omits entirely or only hints at details such as windows; the architecture is reduced to basic forms, leaving the distinct geometric shapes of individual buildings clearly recognizable.

The buildings are mainly rendered in light colours, with the prominent shadows in the paintings conveying the impression of bright sunlight. The paint is applied extensively; only some parts, often depicting trees or bushes, show distinct brushwork and additional shades of grey.

The unreal, partly sterile feel of the image can be attributed to both the reduction in detail and the use of an architectural model as the source image.

The three-part work Townscape TR can be considered a high point of the paintings based on architectural models, as suggested by Gerhard Richter himself: 'In this painting the model does not fit together – there is a sense of discontinuity about the image. I think very few of the paintings after architectural models are successful, with the exception of this one. I was able in this painting to achieve a sense of presence. I put the paint on very thickly in black and white, creating with the two a grey. It was quite musical, almost like a fugue.'¹

The simplified architectural forms illustrate how, while Gerhard Richter deals with the process of abstraction in this series, the motif always remains identifiable.
The depictions of minimalist architecture of the post-war era reflect an important sociopolitical issue of the 1950s and 1960s. In the course of the rebuilding of war-damaged Germany, new buildings of the kind depicted replaced lost houses. Thus, these paintings illustrate the optimistic fresh start made after the Second World War and can be understood as a counterpoint to the townscapes that are reminiscent of bombed-out cities.

¹ Comments on some works, 1991 in: Gerhard Richter: Text. Writings, Interviews and Letters 1961–2007, Thames & Hudson, London, 2009, p. 263

Notes prepared by editorial team

Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany

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 2017 Publisher Duke University Press, Durham Details Softcover, 163 pages ISBN 9780822370017 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 115-117		Unconsolable Contemporary: Observing Gerhard Richter		Rabinow, Paul edit		2017
Issue 01 January 2014 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern Details Hardback, 336 pages ISBN 9783775739061 ISBN 3775739068 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 82 Illustrated: p. 90-91, 261 (colour) Exhibitions 40|10: Forty Years of the Collection – Ten Years of the Museum Frieder Burda, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden und Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2014  Published to accompany the exhibition 40 | 10. 40 Jahre Sammlung – 10 Jahre Museum Frieder Burda, this catalogue looks at Burda’s collecting activities over the last 40 years. ... More Details		40 / 10: 40 Jahre Sammlung - 10 Jahre Museum Frieder Burda		Adriani, Götz / Burda, Frieder / Irrgang, Judith / Kugelmann, Anke / Müller, Hans-Joachim / Pehnt, Wolfgang / Schwarz, Katrin edit		2014
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. 74, 74-79 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 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 Discussed: pp. 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81 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 2011 Publisher Tate Publishing, London Details Softcover, 288 pages ISBN 1854379453 ISBN 978-1854379450 Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Discussed: pp. 74 (74-78) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Panorama, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France, 2011  Gerhard Richter: Panorama, Neue und Alte Nationalgalerie, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany, 2011  Gerhard Richter: Panorama, Tate Modern, London, UK, 2011		Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective		Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine edit		2011
Issue 01 January 2011 Publisher Kerber, Bielefeld Details Hardback, 367 pages ISBN 9783866786028 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 248, 249 (colour) Exhibitions Never Trouble-free Again! Aachen Avant-garde Since 1964, Ludwig Forum für Internationale Kunst, Aachen, Germany, 2011		Nie wieder störungsfrei! Aachen Avantgarde seit 1964		Franzen, Brigitte edit		2011
Issue 01 January 2011 Publisher Marsilio, Venezia Details Softcover, 219 pages ISBN 9788831711128 Language Italian Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 71, 118		Il bordo del mondo: La forma sguardo nella pittura di Gerhard Richter		Garbin, Emanuele edit		2011
Issue 01 January 2010 Publisher Tate Publishing, London Details Softcover, 96 pages ISBN 9781854379641 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Discussed: pp. 65-69 In this publication, eminent American scholar and curator Robert Storr offers an authoritative consideration of September, Richter’s 2005 painting made in response to the attacks on the WorldTrade Center of 11 September 2001, ... More Details		September. A History Painting by Gerhard Richter		Storr, Robert edit		2010
Issue 01 January 2010 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Softcover, 112 pages ISBN 9783775726726 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 12 (colour) Exhibitions There is something about these pictures... Insights into the collection, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2010		'Die Bilder tun was mit mir …'. Einblicke in die Sammlung Frieder Burda		Ammann, Jean-Christophe / Kamp, Patricia edit		2010
Issue 01 January 2009 Publisher University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL Details Hardback, 408 pages ISBN 9780226203232 Language English Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 158, 201 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
In The Telegraph Issue 20 September 2008, p. 54 - 59 Language English Category Newspaper Articles Artwork		Gerhard Richter. Behind the Pictures		Gayford, Martin edit		2008
Issue 01 January 2008 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 184 pages ISBN 9783775721363 Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 165 Illustrated: p. 76, 77 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Paintings From Private Collections, MKM Museum Küppersmühle für Moderne Kunst, Duisburg, Germany, 2008  Gerhard Richter: Retrospective, Albertina, Vienna, Austria, 2008  Gerhard Richter: Paintings from Private Collections, Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2008  The catalogue Gerhard Richter: Bilder aus privaten Sammlungen was published to coincide with exhibitions in Baden-Baden, Beijing, Edinburgh, Vienna and Duisburg in 2008 and 2009. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Bilder aus privaten Sammlungen		Adriani, Götz / Schwarz, Dieter edit		2008
Issue 01 January 2008 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 230 pages Language Chinese German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 84, 85 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Paintings 1963–2007, National Art Museum of China, Beijing, China, 2008  Gerhard Richter: Bilder 1963 – 2007 is the catalogue published to coincide with the exhibition at the National Art Museum in Beijing in 2008. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Bilder 1963 - 2007		Adriani, Götz / Elger, Dietmar edit		2008
Issue 01 January 2008 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 160 pages ISBN 3775722483 Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 137 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Abstract Paintings, Haus der Kunst, Munich, Germany, 2008  Gerhard Richter: Abstract Paintings, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany, 2008  The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Abstrakte Bilder at Museum Ludwig, Cologne and Haus der Kunst, Munich. The exhibitions were dedicated to Gerhard Richter’s abstract pictures ... More Details		Gerhard Richter: Abstrakte Bilder		Wilmes, Ulrich / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Söntgen, Beate / Stemmrich, Gregor edit		2008
Issue 01 January 2008 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 160 pages ISBN 9783775722490 Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 137 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Abstract Paintings, Museum Ludwig, Cologne, Germany, 2008  The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Abstrakte Bilder at Museum Ludwig, Cologne and Haus der Kunst, Munich. The exhibitions were dedicated to Gerhard Richter’s abstract pictures ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Large Abstracts		Wilmes, Ulrich / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Söntgen, Beate / Stemmrich, Gregor edit		2008
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. 225 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 2007 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Hardback, 400 pages ISBN 9783832190163 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 370 Exhibitions 52nd Venice Biennale, 2007  50th Venice Biennale: Painting 1964–2003: From Rauschenberg to Murakami, Museo Correr, Venice, Italy, 2007  49th Venice Biennale, 2007  47th Venice Biennale, 2007  41st Venice Biennale, Giardini, Venice, Italy, 2007  39th Venice Biennale, Giardini di Castello, Venice, Italy, 2007  38th Venice Biennale, 2007  36th Venice Biennale, German Pavilion, Venice, Italy, 2007		Die deutschen Beiträge zur Biennale Venedig, 1895-2007		Zeller, Ursula edit		2007
Issue 01 January 2006 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 224 pages ISBN 9783775717243 Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 59 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 2005 Publisher Richter Verlag, Düsseldorf in association with D.A.P Distributed Art Publishers, New York, NY Details Hardback, 324 pages ISBN 9783937572215 ISBN 393757221X Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 28 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter, Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany, 2005  Gerhard Richter, K20 Grabbeplatz, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Düsseldorf, Germany, 2005  This catalogue raisonné records Richter’s works in the years 1993-2004. In his work, Gerhard Richter calls into question painting's boundaries, and the labels applied to painting and theories connected with them. ... More Details		Gerhard Richter. Catalogue Raisonné 1993–2004		Zweite, Armin edit		2005
Issue 01 January 2004 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Hardback, 224 pages ISBN 978-3-8321-7495-8 ISBN 3-8321-7495-8 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 105 (colour) Exhibitions German Art: An American View on German Art, Städelsches Kunstinstitut und Städtische Galerie, Frankfurt am Main, Germany, 2004		German Art. Deutsche Kunst aus amerikanischer Sicht. Werke aus der Sammlung des Saint Louis Art Museum		Firmenich, Andrea / Homburg, Cornelia edit		2004
Issue 01 January 2004 Publisher Hatje Cantz, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 256 pages ISBN 3775714650 Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 174, 175 (colour) Exhibitions Inaugural Exhibition: Frieder Burda Collection, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden und Museum Frieder Burda, Baden-Baden, Germany, 2004		Sammlung Frieder Burda [anläßlich der Eröffnung des von Richard Meiner entworfenen Museumsneubaus, Oktober 2004 in Baden-Baden]		Burda, Frieder / Gallwitz, Klaus / Greschat, Isabel / Ashton, Dore / Sies, Werner / Shiff, Richard / Storr, Robert / Curiger, Bice / Bastian, Aeneas edit		2004
Issue 01 January 2003 Publisher Merrell Publishers, London Details Hardback, 160 pages ISBN 1858942357 Language English Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 87 (colour) Exhibitions German Art Now, Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, USA, 2003		German Art Now		Steiner, Mary Ann edit		2003
Issue 01 January 2002 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Hardback, 420 pages ISBN 9783832158484 Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 250 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 1999 Publisher Gli Ori, Prato Details Softcover, 205 pages ISBN 8887700079 Language Italian English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 16, 30, 169, 171, 179, 181 Exhibitions Gerhard Richter, Centro per l'Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, Prato, Italy, 1999		Gerhard Richter		Corà, Bruno / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean Francois / Moscati, Italo edit		1999
Issue 01 January 1998 Publisher Insel-Verlag, Frankfurt a. M. Details Softcover, 172 pages ISBN 345833937X Language German Category Monographs Artwork Mentioned: pp. 53, 54		Gerhard Richter, 18. Oktober 1977. Eine Kunst-Monographie		Hemken, Kai-Uwe edit		1998
Issue 01 January 1996 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit Details Hardback, 311 pages ISBN 3893228608 Language English German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 17, 24, 287 Discussed: pp. 38, 48-49 Illustrated: p. 73 (colour) Exhibitions Frieder Burda Collection: Gerhard Richter. Sigmar Polke. Arnulf Rainer, Staatliche Kunsthalle Baden-Baden, Baden-Baden, Germany, 1996		Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Arnulf Rainer. Sammlung Frieder Burda = Collection Frieder Burda		Poetter, Jochen / Brehm, Margrit / Möckel, Birgit edit		1996
Issue 01 January 1993 Publisher Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit ISBN 3893225544 Language German English French Category Solo Exhibitions Notes Three-volume box set. Artwork Exhibitions Gerhard Richter, Moderna Museet, Stockholm, Sweden, 1993  Gerhard Richter: Painting 1962–1993, Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bonn, Germany, 1993  Gerhard Richter: Painting, Musée d'art moderne de la Ville de Paris, Paris, France, 1993  Three-volume box set. Vol. 1: Illustrated works in exhibition. This volume (196 pp) contains approximately 92 four-colour and black and white plates (272 total works reproduced), ... More Details		Gerhard Richter: Catalogue Raisonné 1962 - 1993		Pagé, Suzanne / Jacob, Wenzel / Springfield, Björn / König, Kasper / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. edit		1993
Issue 01 January 1991 Publisher Tate Publishing, London Details 144 pages ISBN 9781854370846 Language English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 27, 126 Illustrated: p. 53 (colour) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter, Tate Gallery, London, UK, 1991		Gerhard Richter		Rainbird, Sean / Severne, Judith edit		1991
Issue 01 January 1986 Publisher DuMont, Köln Details Softcover, 402 pages ISBN 3770117727 Language German English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 39 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 1985 Publisher Waisenhaus-Buchdruckerei und Verlag, Braunschweig Details Softcover, 230 pages Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 118-119 (b/w) Exhibitions Museum? Museum! Museum. Art of Today from Hamburg Private Collections, Museum für 40 Tage, Hamburg, Germany, 1985		Museum? Museum! Museum. Kunst von heute aus Hamburger Privatsammlungen		Schilling, Jürgen / Peters, Babette / Hofmann, Werner / Gercken, Günther edit		1985
Issue 01 January 1975 Publisher Kunsthalle Bremen, Bremen Details Softcover, 108 pages Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Illustrated: p. 50, 51 (b/w) Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Paintings from 1962–1974, Kunsthalle Bremen, Bremen, Germany, 1975		Gerhard Richter. Bilder aus den Jahren 1962-1974		Grüterich, Marlis / Schneckenburger, Manfred edit		1975
Issue 01 January 1972 Publisher Museum Folkwang, Essen Details Hardback, 154 pages Language Italian German English Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 10-11, 41 Illustrated: p. 66, 80-81 (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 1970 Publisher Lipp, München Details Softcover, 210 pages Language German Category Group Exhibitions Artwork Mentioned: pp. 157 Exhibitions Painting After Photography: From Camera Obscura to Pop Art, Münchner Stadtmuseum, Munich, Germany, 1970		Malerei nach Fotografie. Von der Camera Obscura bis zur Pop Art. Eine Dokumentation		Schmoll, Josef A. edit		1970
Issue 01 January 1969 Publisher Gegenverkehr e.V., Aachen, Zentrum für aktuelle Kunst, Aachen Details Softcover, 23 pages Language German Category Solo Exhibitions Artwork Exhibitions Gerhard Richter, Gegenverkehr e.V. Zentrum für aktuelle Kunst, Aachen, Germany, 1969		Gerhard Richter		Honnef, Klaus edit		1969

This artwork is shown or mentioned in the following videos:

Exhibitions Paintings from Private Collections Keith Hartley 2009   edit

Works September Robert Storr 2009   edit

Exhibitions Gerhard Richter: Birkenau Helmut Friedel 2016   edit