Marian’s Other Richters: Orchidee II (2)

Much like mourning, shopping never ends. And though several months have passed since we honored, ogled, and fervently bid on Marian’s Richters, with fall comes a new round of auctions to remind us of what we’ve lost, and what’s newly available. Orchidee II-II? Marian Goodman’s second Gerhard Richter edition, 1988, offset print on lightweight card between plexiglas, this one is ed. 21/25, the one last May was ed. 18/25 And if some of it feels familiar, that’s just how grief works. And art dealers, who apparently keep at least two examples from the edition for themselves. Orchidee II is both the title of the 1988 print-of-a-painting-in-plexi edition, and the number appearing in Marian Goodman’s collection. So far. If I’m the underbidder from last May’s $57,150 sale, I guess I’m glad to have another chance at a beautiful print. But I’m also asking just how many more of these specific Richters Marian had tucked away, if only for the possibility of staging a Germano Celant-style small…