Menschen meines Lebens

In spring 2024, Gerhard Richter (born 1932) made a selection of his own paintings gathered in this book, all depicting people. These works were created between 1964 and 2009 and showcase a range of individuals of varying degrees of familiarity. Depending on one's familiarity with Richter's work, some recognizable figures from his family circle can be identified, making up nearly half of those depicted. Others remain obscure. They include figures from contemporary history, friends, actors, and politicians. In his essay, Helmut Friedel attempts to lift the veil without eliminating the mystery and intrigue surrounding the subjects. Gerhard Richter typically captures images of people in series. However, in this case, it is not a compilation of these works into a block, but rather a conceptual and visual recreation of an imaginary encounter that takes place only here. This small book aims to do justice to this very personal selection by the artist, including some of the most beautiful images he has painted, and to explore the connections between the individual works, their creation, and the people depicted.