Gerhard Richter Painting

Many consider Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)—whose art has sold for higher prices than that of his contemporaries—to be the best living painter. Corinna Betz's outstanding documentary features substantial 2009 footage of the artist at work on a series of large abstract canvases, with the camera silently following his progress. But it also offers excerpts from interviews in which Richter struggles to articulate the creative process, while complaining that the very presence of the camera might be adversely affecting something he describes as intensely personal. Archival black-and-white clips of Richter as a young man are interwoven, along with footage of Richter arriving at galleries to oversee exhibitions of his paintings, and trying to address questions posed during press conferences. Biographical details are added as the artist peruses boxes of old photographs of himself and his family that he is beginning to arrange, scrapbook-style. The end result is a winning collage that invites viewers to piece together their own impressions of Richter, instead of merely receiving a recitation of facts. Extras include a featurette on Richter preparing for a Munich exhibition, conversations between Richter and art historian Benjamin H.D. Buchloh and museum curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist, and a DVD-ROM-accessible interview of Richter by the director. An excellent treatment of an important modern artist, this is highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)