23.3.88 1988

Richter made this watercolour, titled "23.3.88," in 1988, and it's all about letting the medium do its thing. The blues and yellows aren't neatly separated; they bleed and blend, creating a sense of fluidity and chance. It's process as performance, in a way. Up close, you can see how the watery paint creates these translucent layers. Look at the upper right quadrant, where the blues pool and mingle. There’s even some dark, almost scribbled lines scratched in there. This area feels denser, more concentrated, like a gathering storm. It’s as if Richter is exploring the potential of watercolour to evoke atmosphere and mood. It reminds me of Turner, really. Like in a lot of Richter’s work, there’s a push and pull between control and accident, intention and surrender. It’s this embrace of uncertainty that keeps you looking, searching for meaning in the interplay of color and form.