2.3.85 1985

Gerhard Richter created this abstract oil on canvas painting, titled "2.3.85," on February 3rd, 1985. Richter came of age in the aftermath of World War II. His work resists easy interpretation, and often confronts the weight of history, memory, and representation itself. In this small abstract work, Richter's layering of colors is almost a metaphor for his confrontation with history. We see blues and reds, yellows and greens all layered together. This creates a sense of depth that pulls us into the canvas. The work is neither figurative, nor entirely abstract, it hovers in between. Richter once said that, "Abstract painting is like putting faith in something you cannot see." What are we meant to take away from this work? Is there any particular emotional narrative here? The artist’s choice to simply title this work with a date leaves much open to interpretation. It is in this space where we might reflect on not just our individual histories, but also our shared cultural memory.