Pleasure #162 (2001) «PLUS»

In the world of contemporary art, few names command as much reverence as . By the time 2001 arrived, Richter was already a titan of both photo-realism and abstraction. However, his work from this specific year represents a peak in his "squeegee" technique—a method that famously balances high-precision control with the beauty of pure chance. A Year of Artistic Transition

This blog post explores Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting) series from 2001 , specifically focusing on the works exhibited during his landmark transition into the early 2000s.

Richter’s 2001 abstractions are characterized by their dense, multi-layered surfaces. Using a homemade —a large wooden plank with a rubber edge—Richter would drag wet oil paint across the canvas, partially obscuring the layers beneath while revealing unexpected "accidents" of color and texture. Pleasure #162 (2001)

Gerhard Richter, 873-7 Abstraktes Bild, 2001 | Marian Goodman 55 1/8 x 55 1/8 in. Marian Goodman Gallery Gerhard Richter | Paris | October 20—December 20, 2025

While some works from this era lean into "toxic" oranges and artificial yellows, others maintain the cool, skeptical grays for which Richter is famous. In the world of contemporary art, few names

The year 2001 was a pivotal moment for Richter’s legacy. It preceded his massive retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) , which opened in early 2002. The paintings produced in 2001, often numbered under his Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting) catalogue raisonné (such as the 873 series), showcase a seasoned artist at the height of his powers. The Visual Language of 2001

If you want to see these masterpieces in person, Richter’s work from this period is frequently featured at major galleries like David Zwirner and the Marian Goodman Gallery . Whether they are smoldering with passion or coolly detached, Richter’s 2001 abstractions remain a testament to the idea that painting is never truly "finished"—it is only ever a captured moment of transformation. A Year of Artistic Transition This blog post

Many of the 2001 works were executed on aluminum or alu dibond rather than traditional canvas, giving the paint a distinct, luminous slickness.