Gerhard Richter Scheune Appraisal

Scheune (Grange / Barn), 1983 - Gerhard Richter

This item is an original oil painting on canvas by the renowned German contemporary artist Gerhard Richter, titled 'Scheune' (Barn), created in 1983. The painting is a medium-to-large scale landscape work executed in Richter's signature photo-realistic style, which often involves a characteristic blurring or 'soft focus' effect that bridges the gap between photography and fine art. The composition features a traditional rural barn with a prominent orange-red gabled roof, nestled among lush green trees and sloping grassy hills, with a dirt path winding into the foreground. The lighting suggests late afternoon, casting long, soft shadows across the structure and landscape. The canvas appears to be stretched over a wooden frame, exhibited in this instance without an external decorative frame, emphasizing its contemporary nature. The condition appears excellent, indicating professional museum conservation and climate control. This specific work is part of Richter's series exploring the banality and beauty of the natural landscape, often based on his own amateur photographs. The paint application is smooth, with meticulous blending of hues to achieve the realistic yet ethereal quality of his 'Landscapes' period. The museum wall text identifies its provenance, noting it is on loan or formerly associated with the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto.