Townscape 1968

Gerhard Richter's Townscape is a painting where the process feels almost like a finding, like a form of reveal. The restricted palette of blacks, greys, and whites, applied in broad strokes, creates a dynamic interplay between figuration and abstraction. Look at the way the paint is applied, thick in some areas, almost translucent in others, allowing the texture of the surface to peek through. It’s like Richter is asking, what is a building, really? Is it the thing itself, or the way we remember the thing? The strong verticals and horizontals give a sense of structure, but they also break down the scene into its basic components. Note the dark, central form - is it a doorway, a shadow, or a figure? It’s this ambiguity that gives the painting its power, suggesting a world in flux, constantly shifting between clarity and obscurity. It reminds me of Giorgio Morandi’s still lifes, where simple objects become vehicles for exploring perception. Richter’s Townscape, ultimately, feels like a meditation on how we make sense of the world through the act of painting.