Totally Different. Exactly the Same.

Nestling Beyond | oil on panel | 24”x24”

I was art-show hopping in New York City this past weekend and was struck by how such completely different genres of art elicited the same feeling of awe and wonder.

Some thoughts . . .

Gerhard Richter’s artistic expression is seemingly limitless. And, his search is rooted in the historical context of his early life. He believes that nothing is permanent, change is a given, let go of everything, and keep going.
Richter guides his journey with these words:
I don’t know. I’m not sure. I’m still thinking. I’m still working.

Fueled by the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard’s pursuit of faith in the absolute, 19th century Danish painters turned to the geometry of perspective and the radiance of light to offer order and peace within the cultural crumbling of their world.
The leading Danish painter of the time, Christoffer Wilhelm Eckersberg (1783-1853) championed a scientifically informed art willing to acknowledge the absolute reality of mystery (sometimes called God), the “one thing” Kierkegaard sought.

Gerhard Richter abolishes boundaries in the pursuit of infinite beauty.
Nineteenth century Danish painters created boundaries in pursuit of absolute beauty.

Both express their truth in paint.