Sketch for Labyrinth - no. 301 1970

Hans Richter made this sketch for a labyrinth, number 301, with watercolor and ink, it seems. The brown lines map a possible route or the walls of the labyrinth itself. What I love about this piece is how the washes of color really bleed and flow into each other, like the pigment is in a hurry to get somewhere. It’s like Richter laid down the path, and the watercolor just followed. I also see how the brown ink lines have a hand-drawn quality, a slightly irregular wobble which gives the whole piece a human touch, a sense of searching and discovery. That loose, gestural quality reminds me a little of Cy Twombly's line-based works. Both artists share this feeling of almost childlike exploration and a kind of playful spontaneity, not being afraid to let the materials lead the way. Ultimately, with pieces like these, Richter shows us that art is an open question, an invitation to explore, rather than a closed statement.