180 Colors

Currently not on view

180 Colors

1971

Gerhard Richter (German, born 1932)

While many abstract paintings are about expression or purity, 180 Colors is about nothing so lofty. Richter used a systematic approach to determine the rich variety of colors: he produced its 180 different colors by combining the three primary colors to get twelve hues and then mixing fifteen tones of each varying from light to dark. The surface, composed of glossy enamel paint, is flawless and shiny. Another key element of this painting is literally not there at all: From a distance, an optical illusion of gray dots seems to hover at the corners of the colored blocks.

Currently not on view

Object Details

Title:

180 Colors
180 Farben

Date:

1971

Artist:

Gerhard Richter (German, born 1932)

Medium:

Enamel paint on canvas

Dimensions:

6 feet 6 3/4 inches × 6 feet 6 3/4 inches (200 × 200 cm)

Classification:

Paintings

Credit Line:

Gift (by exchange) of Mrs. Herbert Cameron Morris, 1998

Accession Number:

1998-73-1

Geography:

Made in Europe

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Currently not on view