"October 18, 1977"
An exhibition by Gerhard Richter

Gerhard Richter's 15-painting cycle is quite simply one of the most important works of art of the second half of the 20th century. Now in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, the collection of black and white oil paintings drew from ubiquitous photographs of the Baader-Meinhof era. Angering the German public when it first appeared in the late 1980s, it has become recognized as Richter's masterwork.

Read my analysis of the cycle

For a first-rate story that uses the exhibition as an analytical jumping-off point, read Don Delillo's New Yorker short story "Baader-Meinhof" (outside link to pdf of story)

Click on each picture below for contextual background information and access to larger, detailed versions of the paintings.

 

Youth Portrait (Jugendbildnis) 1988. Oil on Canvas 72.4 cm X 62 cm
Arrest 1 (Festnahme 1) 1988. Oil on Canvas 92 cm X 126.5 cm
Arrest 2 (Festnahme 2) 1988. Oil on Canvas 92 cm X 126.5 cm
Confrontation 1 (Gegenüberstellung 1) 1988. Oil on Canvas 112 cm X 102 cm
Confrontation 2 (Gegenüberstellung 2) 1988. Oil on Canvas 112 cm X 102 cm
Confrontation 3 (Gegenüberstellung 3) 1988. Oil on Canvas 112 cm X 102 cm
Hanged (Erhängte) 1988. Oil on Canvas 201 cm X 140 cm
Cell (Zelle) 1988. Oil on Canvas 201 cm X 140 cm
Record Player (Plattenspieler) 1988. Oil on Canvas 62 cm X 83 cm
Man Shot Down 1 (Erschossener 1) 1988. Oil on Canvas 100.5 cm X 140.5 cm
Man Shot Down 2 (Erschossener 2) 1988. Oil on Canvas 100.5 cm X 140.5 cm
Dead 1 (Tote 1) 1988. Oil on Canvas 62 cm X 73 cm
Dead 2 (Tote 2) 1988. Oil on Canvas 62 cm X 62 cm
Dead 3 (Tote 3) 1988. Oil on Canvas 35 cm X 40 cm
Funeral (Beerdigung) 1988. Oil on Canvas 200 cm X 320 cm

 

 

"October 18, 1977"

An Exhibit by Gerhard Richter

In the permanent collection of The Museum of Modern Art, New York City, NY

Buy the Book (Amazon US)
Buy the Book(Amazon Germany)
Gerhard Richter: October 18, 1977
by Robert Storr
Published by The Museum of Modern Art
152 Pages, hardbound

This book is extraordinary. It offers intriguing detail about Richter's art, detailed, footnoted background on the Baader-Meinhof era, and in-depth analysis of the "October 18, 1977" cycle. The book could be considered a full-length justification for MOMA's extraordinary and costly purchase of Richter's cycle. I think the book makes its case beautifully.

Note: the book is out of print, but people can often find used copies through the Amazon link for a reasonable price. The German version is still in print and used and new versions are available from the Amazon Germany link

-- Richard Huffman