Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is an ink print by Gerhard Richter. It dates from 1967 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
A nightstand between them holds a few small objects, and the walls are plain with a single light on.
This photo shows two people in a small, dimly lit hotel room. They’re sitting on twin beds covered with patterned blankets, facing away from the camera. A nightstand between them holds a few small objects, and the walls are plain with a single light on.
The photo was taken in 1967 at a hotel in Antwerp, as noted in the caption. The artist turned a real moment into this print, keeping it simple and raw.
Look up Gerhard Richter to see how he blended photography and painting.
Overview
Untitled is a 1967 screenprint by German artist Gerhard Richter, part of a six‑work series that includes variations such as a version with seed packets, a plexiglass edition, and one incorporating glitter. The print belongs to the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures a dimly lit hotel bedroom in Antwerp, showing two figures seated on twin beds, their backs turned to the viewer. A modest nightstand holds a few objects, while a single light source illuminates the plain walls, emphasizing the scene’s quiet, observational quality.
Technique & Style
Richter employed screenprinting to translate a photographic source into a flat, abstracted composition. The process flattens tonal variations, preserving the photograph’s immediacy while foregrounding the graphic qualities of line and surface that characterize his early print work.
History & Provenance
Created in 1967, the print was produced as part of a limited portfolio that explored different material interventions. It entered the Museum of Modern Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as an example of Richter’s engagement with photographic imagery.
Context
During the late 1960s Richter was investigating the relationship between photography and painting, using mechanical reproduction to question notions of originality. This work reflects his broader interest in everyday scenes rendered with a detached, documentary sensibility.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gerhard Richter is a German visual artist. Richter has produced abstract as well as photorealistic paintings, photographs and glass pieces. He is widely regarded as one of the most important contemporary German artists…
