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Townscape Sa

Stadtbild Sa
Townscape Sa

1969 124 cm x 124 cm Catalogue Raisonné: 219-2

Oil on canvas

In contrast to the aerial photographs, some of which depict entire areas of towns, the townscapes are from a shorter distance, having been based on photographs of architectural models. Gerhard Richter omits entirely or only hints at details such as windows; the architecture is reduced to basic forms, leaving the distinct geometric shapes of individual buildings clearly recognizable.


The buildings are mainly rendered in light colours, with the prominent shadows in the paintings conveying the impression of bright sunlight. The paint is applied extensively; only some parts, often depicting trees or bushes, show distinct brushwork and additional shades of grey.


The unreal, partly sterile feel of the image can be attributed to both the reduction in detail and the use of an architectural model as the source image.

The simplified architectural forms illustrate how, while Gerhard Richter deals with the process of abstraction in this series, the motif always remains identifiable.


The depictions of minimalist architecture of the post-war era reflect an important sociopolitical issue of the 1950s and 1960s. In the course of the rebuilding of war-damaged Germany, new buildings of the kind depicted replaced lost houses. Thus, these paintings illustrate the optimistic fresh start made after the Second World War and can be understood as a counterpoint to the townscapes that are reminiscent of bombed-out cities.

Notes prepared by editorial team

Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis, USA

This artwork is based on an image included in Atlas:

This Atlas sheet includes the source images of the following works:

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This artwork was shown in the following exhibitions:

This artwork is included in the following publications:

Title
Author
Date
Gerhard Richter: Künstlerbücher
2022

Publisher

Walther und Franz König, Köln

Editor

Lailach, Michael

Details

Softcover, 143 pages

ISBN

9783753301792

Language

German

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

More Details
Unconsolable Contemporary: Observing Gerhard Richter
Rabinow, Paul
2017

Publisher

Duke University Press, Durham

Details

Softcover, 163 pages

ISBN

9780822370017

Language

English

Category

Monographs

...

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Gerhard Richter, Panorama: une rétrospective = a retrospective
Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine
2012

Publisher

Édition du Centre Pompidou, Paris

Editor

Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille

Details

Hardback, 304 pages

ISBN

978-2844265746, 284426574X

Language

French, English

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter: Panorama: Retrospektive
Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine
2012

Publisher

Prestel, München

Editor

Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille

Details

Hardback, 305 pages

ISBN

9783791351896

Language

German

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter: Panorama: A Retrospective
Godfrey, Mark / Serota, Nicholas / Brill, Dorothée / Morineau, Camille / Borchardt-Hume, Achim / Dickson, Amy / Haidu, Rachel / Mehring, Christine
2011
Il bordo del mondo: La forma sguardo nella pittura di Gerhard Richter
Garbin, Emanuele
2011

Publisher

Marsilio, Venezia

Details

Softcover, 219 pages

ISBN

9788831711128

Language

Italian

Category

Monographs

...

More Details
September. A History Painting by Gerhard Richter
Storr, Robert
2010

Publisher

Tate Publishing, London

Details

Softcover, 96 pages

ISBN

9781854379641

Language

English

Category

Monographs

In this publication, eminent American scholar and curator Robert Storr offers an authoritative consideration of September, Richter’s 2005 painting made in response to the attacks on the WorldTrade Center of 11 September 2001,

...
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Gerhard Richter. A Life in Painting
Elger, Dietmar
2009

Publisher

University of Chicago Press, Chicago, IL

Details

Hardback, 408 pages

ISBN

9780226203232

Language

English

Category

Monographs

Gerhard Richter has been widely regarded as a publicity shy artist. However, the biography Gerhard Richter. A Life in Painting gives an insight into Richter’s personal history as well as into the development of his artistic œuvre.

...
More Details
Gerhard Richter. Large Abstracts
Wilmes, Ulrich / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Söntgen, Beate / Stemmrich, Gregor
2008

Publisher

Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit

Details

Hardback, 160 pages

ISBN

9783775722490

Language

English

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Abstrakte Bilder at Museum Ludwig, Cologne and Haus der Kunst, Munich. The exhibitions were dedicated to Gerhard Richter’s abstract pictures

...
More Details
Gerhard Richter: Abstrakte Bilder
Wilmes, Ulrich / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Söntgen, Beate / Stemmrich, Gregor
2008

Publisher

Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit

Details

Hardback, 160 pages

ISBN

3775722483

Language

German

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

The book was published on the occasion of the exhibition Gerhard Richter. Abstrakte Bilder at Museum Ludwig, Cologne and Haus der Kunst, Munich. The exhibitions were dedicated to Gerhard Richter’s abstract pictures

...
More Details
Gerhard Richter. Portraits
Gronert, Stefan / Butin, Hubertus
2006

Publisher

Hatje Cantz, Ostildern-Ruit

Details

Hardback, 224 pages

ISBN

9783775717243

Language

German

Category

Monographs

Exhibitions

Gerhard Richter. Portraits is the first publication that focuses solely on Richter’s portraits, many of which have now gained both recognition and veneration across the globe.

...
More Details
Gerhard Richter. Catalogue Raisonné 1993–2004
Zweite, Armin
2005

Publisher

Richter Verlag, Düsseldorf in association with D.A.P Distributed Art Publishers, New York, NY

Details

Hardback, 324 pages

ISBN

9783937572215, 393757221X

Language

English

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

This catalogue raisonné records Richter’s works in the years 1993-2004. In his work, Gerhard Richter calls into question painting's boundaries, and the labels applied to painting and theories connected with them.

...
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German Art. Deutsche Kunst aus amerikanischer Sicht. Werke aus der Sammlung des Saint Louis Art Museum
Firmenich, Andrea / Homburg, Cornelia
2004

Publisher

DuMont, Köln

Details

Hardback, 224 pages

ISBN

978-3-8321-7495-8, 3-8321-7495-8

Language

German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
German Art Now
Steiner, Mary Ann
2003

Publisher

Merrell Publishers, London

Details

Hardback, 160 pages

ISBN

1858942357

Language

English

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter
Corà, Bruno / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D. / Chevrier, Jean Francois / Moscati, Italo
1999

Publisher

Gli Ori, Prato

Details

Softcover, 205 pages

ISBN

8887700079

Language

Italian, English

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter, 18. Oktober 1977. Eine Kunst-Monographie
Hemken, Kai-Uwe
1998

Publisher

Insel-Verlag, Frankfurt a. M.

Details

Softcover, 172 pages

ISBN

345833937X

Language

German

Category

Monographs

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Arnulf Rainer. Sammlung Frieder Burda = Collection Frieder Burda
Poetter, Jochen / Brehm, Margrit / Möckel, Birgit
1996

Publisher

Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit

Details

Hardback, 311 pages

ISBN

3893228608

Language

English, German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter: Catalogue Raisonné 1962 - 1993
Pagé, Suzanne / Jacob, Wenzel / Springfield, Björn / König, Kasper / Buchloh, Benjamin H. D.
1993

Publisher

Hatje Cantz Verlag, Ostfildern-Ruit

ISBN

3893225544

Language

German, English, French

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Notes

Three-volume box set.

Exhibitions

Three-volume box set. Vol. 1: Illustrated works in exhibition. This volume (196 pp) contains approximately 92 four-colour and black and white plates (272 total works reproduced),

...
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Der Hang zur Architektur in der Malerei der Gegenwart
Klotz, Heinrich
1988

Publisher

Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart

Details

Unknown binding, 171 pages

Language

German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Auf der Spur. Sammlung Stober. Eine Auswahl der Sammlung zeitgenössischer Kunst sowie Skulpturen, Masken, Gefässen aus Afrika, Mexiko, Asien
Kempas, Thomas
1987

Publisher

Haus am Waldsee, Berlin

Details

Softcover, 154 pages

Language

German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter. Bilder = Paintings 1962 - 1985
Harten, Jürgen / Hering, Karl-Heinz / Honisch, Dieter / Loock, Ulrich / Ronte, Dieter / Elger, Dietmar
1986
Mit Kamera, Pinsel und Spritzpistole. Realistische Kunst in unserer Zeit. (27.) Rurfestspiele Recklinghausen
Schmoll, Josef A. / Becker, Wolfgang / Steinert, Otto
1973

Publisher

Städtische Kunsthalle, Recklinghausen

Details

Softcover, 200 pages

Language

German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Gerhard Richter. 36. Biennale di Venezia, Padiglione tedesco = 36. Biennale in Venedig, Deutscher Pavilion = 36. Biennale in Venice, German Pavilion
Honisch, Dieter / Helms, Dietrich / Honnef, Klaus / Ohff, Heinz / Dienst, Rolf Gunther / Schön, Rolf / Polke, Sigmar
1972

Publisher

Museum Folkwang, Essen

Details

Hardback, 154 pages

Language

Italian, German, English

Category

Solo Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details
Fünf Sammler, Kunst unserer Zeit. Ein Beitrag zum Forum 'Urbs 71' der Städte Bochum, Dortmund, Köln, Krefeld, Oberhausen, Wuppertal
Müller, Johann-Heinrich / Aust, Günter
1971

Publisher

Von-der-Heydt-Museum, Wuppertal

Details

Softcover, 92 pages

Language

German

Category

Group Exhibitions

Exhibitions

...

More Details

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