Since the late 1960s, Anselm Kiefer has made art that explores the profound depths of human history. For his first American retrospective in twenty years, he takes the river as a metaphor for the flux of life and passage of time. Breathtaking new landscapes join iconic works to celebrate the achievements of his nearly sixty-year career. Becoming the Ocean explores Kiefers remarkable body of work, illuminating his complex engagement with history, mythology, and the human condition. From his early evocative landscapes of postwar Europe to his later, monumental canvases on themes of destruction and regeneration, Kiefers art challenges our understanding of history and memory. Catalogue highlights include previously unpublished artist writings, lavish illustrations, and contributions by writers who inspired Kiefers famously literary art.