Pleasure #162 (2001) Apr 2026

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

While some works from this era lean into "toxic" oranges and artificial yellows, others maintain the cool, skeptical grays for which Richter is famous. Pleasure #162 (2001)

This blog post explores Abstraktes Bild (Abstract Painting) series from 2001 , specifically focusing on the works exhibited during his landmark transition into the early 2000s. The year 2001 was a pivotal moment for Richter’s legacy

Many of the 2001 works were executed on aluminum or alu dibond rather than traditional canvas, giving the paint a distinct, luminous slickness. The Visual Language of 2001 While some works