Title page for the portfolio 9 Objekte - Gerhard Richter

The original title page for Gerhard Richter's 1969 portfolio, 9 Objekte, featuring a minimalist typographic design.

This print serves as the title page for the 1969 portfolio titled 9 Objekte (9 Objects). Produced in collaboration with the publisher Heiner Friedrich in Munich, the work reflects the period in which Richter began to explore the mechanics of reproduction and the status of the art object. The design is stark, prioritising clarity and administrative precision over painterly gesture. It lists the technical specifications of the edition, including the printer, Hoppe + Werry OHG, and the total print run of 80 numbered copies alongside 20 hors commerce examples. Richter, known for his rigorous examination of the medium of painting, often utilised photography and printmaking to question the authenticity of the image. By presenting the documentation of the portfolio as a formal work in its own right, he draws attention to the systems of distribution and classification that govern the art world. The typography is clean and functional, typical of the late 1960s German aesthetic, which favoured a neutral, objective presentation. The inclusion of the edition number and the publisher details transforms the page into a record of its own creation. This piece is a document of the artist's early engagement with the print medium, where the act of cataloguing becomes a creative decision. It provides a glimpse into the structured approach Richter applied to his conceptual projects, stripping away unnecessary ornamentation to focus on the information provided. The minimalist layout ensures that the viewer engages with the text as a visual element, rather than merely a source of data. This print is an essential item for those interested in the history of conceptual printmaking and the early career of one of the most influential figures in contemporary art.