Musea

Scene

Horizontal bands of color traverse the canvas in wavelike movements, evoking associations with landscape or the layered compositions of water lilies paintings. Deep blue-green on the left side yields to luminous primary colors of red, yellow, and blue on the right. A vertical band of radiant green is pierced by streams of luminous color.

Figures

This abstract composition does not depict identifiable figures or characters.

Symbolism

The squeegee marks create a crackling texture that bears the aesthetic mark of photographic reproduction. Light effects suggest light flooding ecclesiastical architecture or sunlight coursing through clouds. The work evokes natural phenomena like geological processes.

Craft

Richter used a squeegee as his primary tool to apply and scrape paint, allowing chance and process to govern the work's development.

Impact

Created in 1986, the work represents the absolute pinnacle of Richter's abstract paintings from 1986 to 1989. It is recognized as among the greatest achievements in abstract painting and has achieved significant market value.