Gerhard Richter pictured with "4900 Colours: Version II." Photograph: Graeme Robertson
German visual artist Gerhard Richter has exploded onto the fine art scene in recent years. Between major exhibitions, one-man retrospectives, and an impressive representation of his work in the most renowned modern-art museums, Richter is in high demand. Many have even called him “the world’s most influential living painter.”
Born in Dresden, Germany in 1932, Richter demonstrated an early aptitude and affinity for artistry. He attended the prestigious Dresden Art Academy, which limited its students’ focus to the study and practice of Communist Realism. Longing to break free from the restrictive ideology and controlled aesthetics, Richter fled from East to West Germany in 1961. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of abstract artists like Jackson Pollock and Lucio Fontana, whose innovative endeavors and displays of artistic freedom intrigued and inspired him.
Richter began to investigate the potential of space and ideas of perception. He believed the artist faced two obstacles in his quest to convey reality: to first understand his surroundings, and then to portray his world. What transpired in his work was an aesthetic duality, a style that was simultaneously abstract and realistic. He often plays with double illusions, challenging the viewer to look past his original understanding and to look deeper into the painting. The viewer cannot always trust what he is seeing, and must try to change his perception in order to reach a higher level of comprehension.
Richter used this concept in a number of different figurative and abstract modes, including Pop Art, Abstract Art, and Optical Art. He did not adhere to one particular cohesive aesthetic, but drew from many different genres and styles, constantly reinventing his approach to art.
And the public has responded in droves, widening the demand for Richter’s work. Sources approximate that $76.9 million worth of Richter’s art was auctioned off in 2010, surpassing that of any other living artist. The biggest buyers were from Russia and China, though Richter’s market is truly global (with Americans, Koreans, Swiss, and Belgians staking a large claim in his work). Sotheby’s European chairman of contemporary art has said that Richter’s work has been flowing steadily out of Germany since the mid ‘90s. Auction houses aren’t the only ones to see the steady flow of Richter sales, as galleries and private collectors have also taken notice of the increasing demand.
Richter’s candle paintings have proven to command the highest auction bids. One of these sold for nearly $15.8 million in 2008. The series is composed of 27 still-life paintings, where each piece possesses an old-fashioned yet timeless quality. “Richter’s candles are like Warhol’s Marilyns,” says Francis Outred, head of contemporary art for Christie’s Europe.
More of Richter’s most popular works are the “Abstrakte Bilder” series—hundreds of abstract paintings that are, as Richter once stated, “mysterious, like an unknown land.” Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich paid about $15.2 million for a select painting from this series in 2008. Richter’s “Capitalist Realism” paintings from the 1960s have also proven to be highly sought after. Despite the depressing and provocative subject matter of these paintings (Tante Marianne depicts Richter’s aunt, who was sterilized then starved to death by Nazis; Zwei Liebespaare depicts two lovers in compromising form), these pieces have sold for millions as well.
The Richter market seems to be its own breed, with a niche product that plays more like the stock market than the art market. Investors have noticed that the collectors, rather than dealers, drive up prices by stockpiling or underbidding, and since Richter’s work requires a very particular taste, many speculators opt for more commercial and popular art. Regardless of Richter’s niche in the market is small, yet undeniably powerful. With its rich colors and textures, his work presents a powerful dialogue, enticing the viewer to actively engage in the piece. It takes a discerning eye to truly understand Richter’s art, and even more so, Richter himself.
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