Gerhard Richter, Betty (1988)
I went to a lecture once that a prolific writer in the art world gave. It was about, amongst other things, the “philosophy of beauty in art”, which I won’t try and elaborate on here. He was fantastic and engaging. He told us that to him Richter’s painting of his daughter, Betty, was the most beautiful painting in the world. He used the phrase “the most beautiful painting in the world,”. You don’t see her face, but you’re waiting and waiting for her to turn her blonde head to you, and you know that when she does you will see “the most beautiful face in the world,”. That is another thing he said.
I also think this painting is very beautiful, but I think it says something about our aesthetics if we’re struck by the beauty of something we can’t fully see. Perhaps anticipation is an aspect of beauty? I wouldn’t be able to answer that confidently.
