Verweile doch... Die Sammlung VII
Stay a While... Collection VII
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich, Germany
18 November 2002 - 09 February 2003
Gerhard Richter's Atlas collection of motifs, including photographs, sketches and newspaper clippings, has been modified over the years and continually expanded.
This group exhibition also displayed 678 sheets from Atlas.
View the complete Atlas here.
Gerhard Richter's Atlas is a collection of photographs, newspaper cuttings and sketches that the artist has been assembling since the mid 1960s. A few years later, Richter started to arrange the materials on loose sheets of paper.
"In the beginning I tried to accommodate everything there that was somewhere between art and garbage and that somehow seemed important to me and a pity to throw away."1
At present, Atlas consists of 802 sheets. Spanning a period of almost four decades, the individual sheets reflect different phases of Richter's life and work:
Although Gerhard Richter had already begun collecting photographs and press cuttings, he started working on Atlas started in the early 1970s by arranging his own and other family photographs on paper.
Subsequent to these photographs, he included pictures taken from newspapers and magazines, some of which he used as source images for his 1960s photo paintings [e.g. Sheets: 5–15]. For the group of works 48 Portraits for example, sketches of how to hang the paintings can be found in addition to source images and installation views of the paintings at the Venice Biennale in 1972. [Sheets: 30–41]
Atlas offers insights into Richter's artistic practice and his way of creating imagery. The Atlas sheets allow one to track how first experiments with Holocaust photographs eventually let to Black, Red, Gold, executed in colour-coated glass; the piece was commissioned by the Deutsche Bundestag (German Government) [Sheets: 635–655].
However, photographs taken by the artist himself are the main focus of Atlas. Extensive series of landscapes, still lifes and family photographs were meticulously arranged on the sheets. Some of these photographs were later used as source images for paintings or were included in his artist's books, as can be seen Wald. The Atlas sheets 697–736 even include the complete layout of the artist's book War Cut from 2004.
Gerhard Richter's life and art interrelate in Atlas in a multilayered way: banal subjects such as a toilet roll [Sheet: 14] are juxtaposed with horrifying Holocaust images [Sheets: 16–20]; serial landscape pictures are lined up with intimate family photographs; colour samples attached to source images can be found as well as photographs showing museum installations. On the basis of its complexity and diversity, the importance of Atlas exceeds simple documentation, and Atlas is widely considered as an independent artwork.
Notes prepared by editorial team
1 Interview with Dieter Schwarz, 1999 in: Gerhard Richter: Text. Writings, Interviews and Letters 1961–2007, Thames & Hudson, London, 2009, p. 332
Städtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus und Kunstbau München, Munich, Germany
This artwork was shown in the following exhibitions::
Related publications
Title | Author | Date | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Richter Interviews | Obrist, Hans Ulrich / Richter, Gerhard edit | 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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(Dis)Figuration of Memory In, Around, and Beyond Gerhard Richter's Atlas: Between Photography, Abstraction, and the Mnemonic Construction | Mesquita Duarte, Miguel edit | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Wo Es war. Vier Briefe an Gerhard Richter | Didi-Huberman, Georges edit | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The Truth is Always Grey. A History of Modernist Painting | Guerin, Frances edit | 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Crisis and Collection. German Visual Memory Archives of the Twentieth Century | McGonagill, Doris edit | 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 ... |
Gerhard Richter: Editionen 1965-2013 | Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas edit | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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 ... |
Gerhard Richter: Editions 1965-2013 | Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan / Olbricht, Thomas edit | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
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. ... |
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Ausschnitt. Werke aus der Sammlung Böckmann = Detail. Paintings from the Böckmannn Collection | Kraus, Eva / Nollert, Angelika / Fuchs, Caroline / Heyden, Thomas edit | 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Lenbachhaus präsentiert Gerhard Richters 'Atlas'-Sammlung | dpa edit | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Lasst mich nicht allein damit. Der Künstler Gerhard Richter erweitert im Münchner Lenbachhaus seinen 'Atlas' voller Bilder | Lorch, Catrin edit | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Anywhere or Not at All. Philosophy of Contemporary Art | Osborne, Peter edit | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
Released on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Atlas – Mikromega, this supplementary volume completes the 2006 publication Gerhard Richter. Atlas with the recently added sheets 784 – 802. ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas. Tafeln / Sheets 784 - 802 | Friedel, Helmut edit | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Tra Cosmologia Privata e Atlante Cultural. Hanne Darboven e Gerhard Richter | Baldacci, Cristina edit | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter: Panorama: Retrospektive | Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine edit | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter: Atlas | Elger, Dietmar edit | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
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 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter. Atlas the Reader | Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevier, Jean-Francois / Cooke, Lynne / Friedel, Helmut / Searle, Adrian / Zweite, Armin edit | 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter. Atlas [Review] | Stevenson, Shirley edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective | Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
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 ... |
Gerhard Richter. Images of an Era | Schneede, Uwe M. / Butin, Hubertus / Elger, Dietmar / Rübel, Dietmar / Westheider, Ortrud edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The catalogue Gerhard Richter. Atlas displays 783 plates of Gerhard Richter’s Atlas. Atlas is a collection of photographs, newspaper cuttings and sketches, which the artist compiled and then arranged on single sheets ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Friedel, Helmut edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Il bordo del mondo: La forma sguardo nella pittura di Gerhard Richter | Garbin, Emanuele edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
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 ... |
Gerhard Richter. Bilder einer Epoche | Schneede, Uwe M. / Butin, Hubertus / Elger, Dietmar / Rübel, Dietmar / Westheider, Ortrud edit | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
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Atlas. ¿Cómo llevar el mundo cuestas? = How to Carry the World on One's Back? | Didi-Huberman, Georges edit | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter. Der 'Atlas'. Künstlerische Werkreflexion als Selbstdarstellung | Pulz, Johanna edit | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
This publication features selections from Richter's journals and interviews, a Japanese translation of Benjamin H. D. Buchloh's Gerhard Richter's Atlas. The Anomic Archive, and an essay by Sumi Hayashi ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Hayashi, Sumi edit | 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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. ... |
Gerhard Richter, Maler | Elger, Dietmar edit | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
The Immediate Touch: German, Austrian, Swiss Drawings from Saint Louis Collections | Benjamin, Brent R. / Clark, Robin / Eyerman, Charlotte / Lutz, Eric / Huremovic Schenkenberg, Tamara / Willhauck, Heidi edit | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Archive / Atlas / Album. The Photographic Construction of Christian Boltanski, Gerhard Richter, and Dinh Q. Le | Albers, Katherine Palmer edit | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Atlas Fever. Artists-As-Archivists | Gueiros, Gisela edit | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Panorama | Lambrecht, Luk / Leen, Frederik / Storr, Robert edit | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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At 864 pages, this monumental and comprehensive publication maps the ideas, processes, life and times of Gerhard Richter. Conceived and closely edited by Richter himself, Atlas cuts straight to the heart of the artist's work ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Friedel, Helmut edit | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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At 864 pages, this monumental and comprehensive publication maps the ideas, processes, life and times of Gerhard Richter. Conceived and closely edited by Richter himself, Atlas cuts straight to the heart of the artist's work ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Friedel, Helmut edit | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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At 864 pages, this monumental and comprehensive publication maps the ideas, processes, life and times of Gerhard Richter. Conceived and closely edited by Richter himself, Atlas cuts straight to the heart of the artist's work ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Friedel, Helmut edit | 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Ohne Farbe = Without Color | Spieler, Reinhard / Gelshorn, Julian / Kania, Elke / Krystof, Doris edit | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter. Atlas. Fotografie, Kolaże, Szkice | Friedel, Helmut / Ślinzińska, Milada edit | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
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Skyggespil. Skygge og lys I samtidskunsten. En hommage til Hans Christian Andersen = Schattenspiel. Schatten und Licht in der zeitgenössischen Kunst. Eine Hommage an Hans Christian Andersen = Shadow Play. Shadow and Light in Contemporary Art. A Homage to Hans Christian Andersen | Casati, Roberto / Johansen, Jørgen Dines / Sadowsky, Thorsten / Wagner, Anselm edit | 2005 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
The catalogue raisonné of Gerhard Richters editions 1965–2004 was published to coincided with exhibitions in Bonn, Lucerne, Emden, Tübingen and Salzburg. ... |
Gerhard Richter: Editionen 1965-2004 | Butin, Hubertus / Gronert, Stefan edit | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
The catalogue raisonné of Gerhard Richters editions 1965–2004 was published to coincide with exhibitions in Bonn, Lucerne, Emden, Tübingen and Salzburg. ... |
Gerhard Richter: Editions 1965-2004 | edit | 2004 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas the Reader | Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean-Francois / Cook, Lynne / Friedel, Helmut / Zweite, Armin edit | 2003 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
L'immagine ritrovata: Pittura e fotografia dagli anni ottanta a oggi / The Image Regained: Painting and Photography from the Eighties to Today | Franciollo, Marco / Grazioli, Elio / Schenini, Elio edit | 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Numaba, Shin-Ichi / Friedel, Helmut edit | 2001 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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This catalogue raisonné of Gerhard Richter's drawings encompasses works in pencil, India ink, ballpoint pen, and other drawing media, on both paper and canvas since 1964. ... |
Gerhard Richter. Drawings 1964-1999. Catalogue Raisonné | Schwarz, Dieter / Pelzer, Birgit edit | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Photography and Painting in the Work of Gerhard Richter. Four Essays on Atlas | Rochlitz, Rainer / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean-Francois / Zweite, Armin edit | 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter | Corà, Bruno / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean Francois / Moscati, Italo edit | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter's 'Atlas': The Anomic Archive | Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. edit | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Fotografia I pintura en l'obra de Gerhard Richter. Quatre assajos a propòsit de l'Atlas = Fotografía y pintura en la obra de Gerhard Richter. Cuatro ensayos a propósito del Atlas | Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean-François / Zweite, Armin / Rochlitz, Rainer edit | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Buchbesprechung. Gerhard Richter. Atlas der Fotos, Collagen und Skizzen | Schmidt, Julia edit | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Pop Impressions. Europe / USA. Prints and Multiples from the Museum of Modern Art | Weitman, Wendy edit | 1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter, 18. Oktober 1977. Eine Kunst-Monographie | Hemken, Kai-Uwe edit | 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richter. Atlas | Schumacher, Rainald edit | 1998 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
The catalogue Gerhard Richter. Atlas der Fotos, Collagen und Skizzen was published on the occasion of the exhibition Der Atlas und seine Bilder in Städtische Galerie in the Lenbachhaus, München. ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas der Fotos, Collagen und Skizzen | Friedel, Helmut / Wilmes, Ulrich edit | 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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The catalogue Gerhard Richter. Atlas of the Photographs, Collages and Sketches was published on the occasion of the exhibition Der Atlas und seine Bilder in Städtische Galerie in the Lenbachhaus, München. ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas of the Photographs, Collages and Sketches | Friedel, Helmut / Wilmes, Ulrich edit | 1997 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
New Art on Paper 2: Acquired with Funds from the Hunt Manufacturing Co. 1989–1995 | Chahroudi, Martha / Dackerman, Susan / Ittmann, John / Percy, Ann / Shoemaker, Innis Howe edit | 1996 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Gerhard Richters Atlas | Hürzler Herzog, Cathérine edit | 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter | Rainbird, Sean / Severne, Judith edit | 1991 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richters 'Atlas'. Das visuelle Laboratorium | Bode, Ursula edit | 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Kunst ist Kunst ist Kunst. Der Galerie-Verein München, 1965-1990. Eine Auswahl der Sammlung in der Staatsgalerie moderner Kunst und in der Staatlichen Graphischen Sammlung | Goedl, Monika / Sonnenburg, Hubertus F. von / Bischoff, Ulrich / Schulz-Hoffmann, Carla / Rein, Ingrid / Sattler, Katharina / Holler, Wolfgang / Falk, Tilman edit | 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
The catalogue Gerhard Richter. Atlas was published on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Atlas der Fotos, Collagen und Skizzen in Städtische Galerie in the Lenbachhaus, München. ... |
Gerhard Richter: Atlas | Zweite, Armin edit | 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter: Matrix 95 | Paoletti, John edit | 1987 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas der Fotos, Collagen und Skizzen | Storck, Gerhard edit | 1976 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Exhibitions
The catalogue Gerhard Richter. Atlas von de foto’s en schetsen was published on the occasion of the eponymous exhibition in Utrecht. ... |
Gerhard Richter. Atlas van de foto's en schetsen | Richter, Gerhard / Kotte, Wouter edit | 1972 |
This artwork is shown or mentioned in the following videos:
1 Related publications
Title | Author | Date | ||||
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Verweile doch... Gerhard Richter, Roman Opalka, On Kawara, Nikolaus Lang, Bill Viola, Hanne Darboven, Michael Wesely, Tatsuo Miyajima / Die Sammlung VII | Friedel, Helmut | 2002 |