Gerhard Richter: Unique Pieces in Series

At first glance, the phrase Unique Pieces in Series seems to be a contradiction in terms. How can something that supposedly exists only once be present several times? Yet, some editions by German artist Gerhard Richter (b. 1932) embody this particular principle of uniqueness in series. In his painting editions, photographic works, prints, drawings and multiples, Richter has developed a way of varying individual pieces within their respective identical production method. An entire edition thus consists of unique variants that are deliberately different. In conjunction with the upcoming exhibition, Gerhard Richter: The Editions, Museum Folkwang, Essen (2017), an informative hardbound catalog will follow combining both featured works along with examples from associated series and mediums. Gerhard Richters former studio assistant, Hubert Butin, along with curator Thomas Olbricht have joined together to create this important look into the world of Richter and his unique

La prima vedere, sintagma Piese unice din serie pare a fi o contradictie in termeni. Cum poate ceva care se presupune ca exista o singura data sa fie prezent de mai multe ori?