Gerhard Richter. Abstrakte Bilder

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, which form approximately one third of his œuvre.

However, this publication is not an overview of the development of his abstract works, but rather singles out selected large format works for discussion. These works, executed between 1986 and 2006, show a similar complexity that originates from a multitude of layers of paint.

Edited by Ulrich Wilmes, with text contributions by Benjamin H.D. Buchloh, Beate Söntgen and Gregor Stemmrich.

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, which form approximately one third of his œuvre.

However, this publication is not an overview of the development of his abstract works, but rather singles out selected large format works for discussion. These works, executed between 1986 and 2006, show a similar complexity that originates from a multitude of layers of paint.

Edited by Ulrich Wilmes, with text contributions by Benjamin H. D. Buchloh, Beate Söntgen and Gregor Stemmrich.

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.

Works from the Böckmann, Frieder Burda and Ströher Collections, and also from other private collections are highlighted and allow an insight spanning 40 years of artistic creation. The paintings from the years 1963 – 2007 reflect both the history of post-war Germany and the development of Gerhard Richter’s painting.

With contributions by Götz Adriani and Dieter Schwarz.

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. It also provides an overview of the museum’s exhibitions of the last 10 years.

One of the most comprehensive bodies of works are paintings by Gerhard Richter, whose work has played a crucial role since the beginning of Burda’s collection. Burda was particularly fascinated by the versatility of Richter's paintings, whose figurative and non-figurative art are of the same importance in his oeuvre. 

Richter’s works have featured in the majority of exhibitions held at the museum. Due to his prominent role in the collection, and with the help of loans, a large retrospective took place in the museum in 2008. The exhibition Gerhard Richter. Bilder aus privaten Sammlungen was a survey of 40 years of Richter’s work as a painter and emphasised his significance as an artist.

The catalogue contains an interview with collector Frieder Burda as well as written contributions by Hans-Joachim Müller and Wolfgang Pehnt.