Ice 1981

Gerhard Richter made this painting, Ice, with oil on canvas. The red in this painting is amazing. It’s a really bold statement, but it also feels kind of raw and exposed, like someone took a brush full of paint and just went for it. I find myself drawn to the way the paint drips and flows, especially where the red meets the yellow. It’s like the colors are having a conversation, mixing and merging, but also retaining their individuality. There's a sense of movement and energy, like something is constantly shifting and evolving. I’m reminded of Helen Frankenthaler and the way she stained her canvases. Both artists are interested in process, but in different ways. Frankenthaler was interested in the relationship between color and canvas, while Richter seems more interested in the act of painting itself. Ultimately, the beauty of this piece lies in its openness, its willingness to embrace ambiguity.