Pleasure #162 (2001) Guide

Richter’s 2001 abstractions are characterized by their dense, multi-layered surfaces. Using a homemade —a large wooden plank with a rubber edge—Richter would drag wet oil paint across the canvas, partially obscuring the layers beneath while revealing unexpected "accidents" of color and texture.

Many of the 2001 works were executed on aluminum or alu dibond rather than traditional canvas, giving the paint a distinct, luminous slickness. Pleasure #162 (2001)

While Richter is often associated with heavy historical themes (like his October 18, 1977 cycle), his abstract works from 2001 offer a different kind of engagement. They provide what curators call a "satisfaction" in the . These works aren't meant to be "decoded"; they are meant to be experienced as pure visual phenomena—much like looking at a weathered wall or a natural landscape. Seeing the Work Today While Richter is often associated with heavy historical

The year 2001 was a pivotal moment for Richter’s legacy. It preceded his massive retrospective at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) , which opened in early 2002. The paintings produced in 2001, often numbered under his Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting) catalogue raisonné (such as the 873 series), showcase a seasoned artist at the height of his powers. The Visual Language of 2001 Seeing the Work Today The year 2001 was

While some works from this era lean into "toxic" oranges and artificial yellows, others maintain the cool, skeptical grays for which Richter is famous.