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I started doing 'figures', then, one day, all of a sudden…

“I started doing 'figures', then, one day, all of a sudden, I started doing abstraction. And then I started doing both. But it was never really a conscious decision. It was simply a question of desire. In fact, I really prefer making figurative work, but the figure is difficult. So to work around…” quote by Gerhard Richter
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“I started doing 'figures', then, one day, all of a sudden, I started doing abstraction. And then I started doing both. But it was never really a conscious decision. It was simply a question of desire. In fact, I really prefer making figurative work, but the figure is difficult. So to work around the difficulty I take a break and paint abstractly. Which I really like, by the way, because it allows me to make beautiful paintings.”

Gerhard Richter

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

His artistic journey shifted between figurative and abstract work, driven by desire rather than deliberate planning.

In simple terms: Desire guides artistic evolution.

Key Takeaway

Follow instinctual creative impulses.

Themes

artistic process desire dual styles

Mood

introspective creative

Type

artistic philosophical

When to use this quote

  • gallery curation
  • art education
  • personal practice

Key Concepts

figurative painting abstract art creative spontaneity

Questions to Reflect On

  • What drives you to switch styles?
  • How do you integrate contrasting approaches?
A Different Perspective

L may cause inconsistency.

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