Over a period of forty-five years, Angelika Platen has photographed more than five hundred artists in their studios and galleries, at biennials and during happenings. Her camera moves toward the artists, and her black-and-white photographs are etched in our memory. Forty years ago, Joseph Beuys letting himself be inspired by Rodin, Walter de Maria lying down on an airport departure corridor, Sigmar Polke cutting a caper, Günther Uecker sitting in a forest of nails, and Hanne Darboven, beautiful and young, posing in front of her “writing time” wall. Forty years later, Darboven marked by time, Jonathan Meese spinning the big wheel, Julian Rosefeldt meeting Petrus Christus, and Sylvie Fleury and Sophie Calle wearing mysterious smiles. In narrative texts and essays, this book presents the different stages of the artist’s precise approach and compassionate dialogue.