20.5.92 1992

Gerhard Richter made this painting, 20.5.92, sometime in the nineties; it’s hard to tell exactly how, but it looks like a photograph he’s then painted over with a squeegee. I love how the bright yellow paint completely changes the image! It is dragged vertically, creating this texture like a forest of abstract marks in front of the photographic mountain range. The yellow is applied with a heavy hand, thick in some areas, scraped away in others, revealing glimpses of the photo underneath. Look at the very bottom edge, where the paint pools and drips, it gives you a sense of gravity. For me, the most interesting part is where the yellow meets the mountains, blurring the line between representation and abstraction. It reminds me of Sigmar Polke and his playful experiments with materials and imagery. Ultimately, this work embodies the spirit of experimentation and Richter’s commitment to exploring the possibilities of painting.