Benjamin Richter – Pictures

I  am working as a painter since several decades;
many works have been realized.
Would details of my biography or a list of my
exhibitions, plus the photograph of the artist,
contribute to a better understanding of
my painting?  –  Certainly not. However,
something should be said about the pictures.
But is it possible to describe them? Is it
necessary to classify them? And how?

According to technics (oil on canvas; gouache,
aquarel, pencil, chalks on paper etc.) or to
format, or
subjects (landscapes, portraits etc., "abstract"
paintings)?

These are precise categories, but they are not
really pertinent. What the artist says, is not to
be found in such describable things. Because only
the experience during the contemplation of the 
works themselves makes it possible to hear what
is said.

If the above meets your thoughts, and if you have
some curiosity for my paintings, please contact me:
br@ephri.ch

                                     *

The attitude here expressed is of course pretty rare.
However, it is not so pecularly unique as it seems to be.
I would like to quote a letter published in a survey of
"The Contemporary Lithographic Workshop around the
World", by Michael Knigin and Murray Zimiles, published
by Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, in 1974 (on page 165).
Sender is the director of The Tamstone Group, Inc. in Los Angeles,
who writes on Sept. 20, 1971 (italics emphasized by myself):

"...Tamstone does not reveal the names of artists for whom it
publishes believing that the client relationship is confidential...
This avoids the name-dropping that is so misleading in the
current art market.

...The Tamstone Group does not provide photographs of
the art it publishes inasmuch as photos are misleading and
cannot reveal the very qualities that are intrinsic to the art
of the original print. We believe that art should be acquired
for its esthetic; esthetic experience is exactly what cannot
be revealed in a photograph. Our collectors come in person
to see our publications in the flesh...

...Since our style of function is different from current print
marketing practices, we want our point of view to be understood..."