Bernd Becher
German
1931, Siegen, Germany
2007, Rostock, Germany
German photographer Hilla Becher discusses her interest in capturing the changing industrial landscape on film, a project she, with and her husband and collaborator, Bernd, began in 1959. Their seemingly straightforward black-and-white pictures of water towers, coal tipples, gas holders, and other structures are in fact products of the Bechers’ radical, decades-long careers at the intersection of documentary photography, design, and Conceptual art. This video was made shortly before her passing in 2015.
Works in the Collection
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Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherKühltürme, Deutschland (Cooling Towers, Germany) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherKalköfen, ca. 1920, bei Manbenge, Nordfrankreich (Lime Kiln, ca. 1920, Manbenge, North France), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherFörderturm, 1920, Fosse "Dutemple," Valenciennes, Nordfrankreich (Winding tower, 1920, Fosse "Dutemple," Valenciennes, North France), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherKühlturm, ca. 1950, Zeche, "Victoria Mathias," Essen, Ruhrgebiet (Cooling tower, ca. 1950, "Victoria Mathias," Essen, Ruhr District), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherRaffinerie bei Metz, Frankreich (Refinery near Metz, France), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherWasserturm, ca. 1920, Liege, Belgien (Water Tower, ca 1920, Liege, Belgium), from the portfolio Industriebauten -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherSilo für Kokskohle, ca. 1920, Kokerei Escheveiler Reserve, bei Aachen (Silo for Coking Coal, ca. 1920, Coking Plant of Escheveiler Reserve, Aachen), from Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherFörderturm, ca. 1910, Blaenserchan Colliery, Pontypool, Südwales (Winding Tower, ca. 1910, Blaenserchan Colliery, Pontypool, South Wales), from portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherGasbehälter, 1959, Wuppertal (Gas Holder, 1959, Wuppertal), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherSilo und Mischanlage einer Baustelle, Essen, Ruhrgebiet (Silo and Machine for a Building Site, Essen, Ruhr District), from the portfolio Industriebauten -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherBlast Furnace, Ensley, Alabama
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Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherBlast Furnace, Johnstown, Pennsylvania
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Hilla Becher, Bernd BecherGasbehälter, ca. 1880, London-Finchley (Gas Holder, ca. 1880, London, Finchley), from the portfolio Industriebauten (Industrial Buildings) -
Bernd Becher, Hilla BecherBlast Furnace: View 2, Völklingen, Saar, Germany
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