Mustang Staffel 1964

Gerhard Richter made this painting, Mustang Staffel, which translates as Mustang Squadron, using oil on canvas. Born in Germany in 1932, Richter’s early life was framed by the Second World War and the divisions of post-war Germany. In "Mustang Staffel" we see a formation of fighter planes rendered in soft, almost blurred focus. This image, like much of Richter’s work, originates from a photograph, highlighting his engagement with memory and representation. The planes themselves evoke a very particular kind of masculine, military power that was so much a part of twentieth-century geopolitics. Richter grew up in Nazi Germany, served in the war, and these planes may be understood as a personal reflection on his experiences with war and his relationship to German history. The blurry effect softens the edges of these machines, imbuing them with a sense of movement, and perhaps also questioning the clarity and certainty of historical narratives. It is like a half-forgotten memory, haunting and ever-present.