The book Mit Skalpell und Farbmaschine. Porträts von Max Ernst bis Gerhard Richter compiles over 20 essays, which Werner Spies wrote for the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung between 1999 and 2007.
In brief chapters German and international artists are introduced and diversified insights into their creative work are granted.
Spies illuminates Richter's Cologne Cathedral Window [CR: 900] on the one hand and his overpainted photographs, taken in the surroundings of the Swiss village Sils on the other.