Bernd and Hilla Becher
Born: Bernd: 1931; Hilla: 1934
Died: Bernd: 2007
Hometown: Düsseldorf, Germany
About The Artist
Passionate about the vanishing industrial landscapes of Europe and America, the German couple Bernd and Hilla Becher spent their careers photographing countless elements of coal mines, oil refineries, and farms. They displayed their works in a unique format: arranging them in mosaics made up of 9 or 15 photographs of similar building types or architectural elements. Called typologies, these elegant and powerful collections captured the dying remains of late 19th and early 20th century industrialism.
Their work eventually lead to historic preservation projects; through their photography and activism, the Bechers were able to contribute to the preservation of an Art Deco coal mine in Germany, which was eventually made into a national landmark.
Bernd and Hilla Becher's students include renowned photographers Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Thomas Struth, Candida Höfer, and Elger Esser.
Works by the Artist
