Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd (1931-2007) and Hilla (1934-2015) Becher were a visionary German artist couple, known for their distinctive collaboration that reshaped contemporary photography. They systematically captured images of the changing industrial landscape across Europe and America, focusing on structures being phased out of use, from water towers to coal bunkers. Their objective and conceptual approach highlighted the functional beauty and architectural nuances of these edifices, classifying them by type and location. This 'typological' method and presentation is signature to the Bechers, merging art, architecture, and cultural archaeology. They continued their rigorous, analytical work at the Düsseldorf School of Photography, where they influenced a generation of artists such as Andreas Gursky, Thomas Ruff, Candida Höfer, and Thomas Struth.