Townscape M5 1968

Gerhard Richter made this painting, Townscape M5, with oil on canvas. It’s all in shades of grey, like an old photograph, and it’s got this cool, detached vibe. Up close, you can see Richter really working the paint, but somehow holding back at the same time, like he's deliberately not trying too hard. The surface has got these thick, buttery strokes, but they don't quite resolve into a clear image. It’s a bit like he's showing you the process of painting, without getting too hung up on the result. Look at the way he's handled the roofs, these thick strokes of grey that almost seem to tumble down the canvas. It’s kind of melancholic, and it reminds me of Giorgio Morandi's paintings, where simple objects become these monumental, almost spiritual forms. Richter is interested in the material quality of paint itself and creates a way of seeing that values the act of looking, more than what's being looked at.