Gerhard Richter

It's our culture, Christian history, that's what formed me. Even as an atheist, I believe. We're just built that way. ”

People won't stop painting, just as they won't stop making music or dancing. This is a facility we have. Children don't stop doing it or having it. On the other hand, it seems we don't need painting anymore. Culture is more interested in entertaining people. ”

I believe in painting and I believe in eating too. What can we do? We have to eat, we have to paint, we have to live. Of course, there are different ways to survive. But it's my best option. ”

I can't paint as well as Vermeer. ”

I have painted my family so frequently because they are the one who really affect me the most. ”

Good art in general aspires to something, as a good painting aspires to something, almost spiritual or holy. ”

I'm still very sure that painting is one of the most basic human capacities, like dancing and singing, that make sense, that stay with us, as something human. ”

I have no time for specialized concerns, working themes or variations that lead to mastery... I like the indefinite, the boundless; I like continual uncertainty. Other qualities may be more conducive to achievement, publicity, success; but they are all outworn - as outworn as ideologies, opinions, concepts and names for things. ”

I don't dare to think my paintings are great. I can't understand the arrogance of someone saying, 'I have created a big, important work.' ”