Why did gerhard Richter paint looking at meinhof?

Gerhard Richter painted "Looking at Meinhof" as a response to the complexities of the German political landscape during the 1970s, particularly the controversial figure of Ulrike Meinhof, a co-founder of the Red Army Faction. The work reflects Richter's exploration of media representation, violence, and the impact of radical ideologies. By depicting Meinhof, he engages with themes of identity, memory, and the interplay between history and personal perception, highlighting the tension between individual narratives and broader societal issues.