Bernd and Hilla Becher

Bernd and Hilla Becher were two German conceptual photographers who together produced typographical documentation of industrial structures. Their black-and-white images served as visual case studies of what they called Anonymous Sculpture, referring to disappearing architectural relics such as coal mines, steel mills, water towers, grain silos, and gas tanks. “I became aware that these buildings [blast furnaces] were a kind of nomadic architecture which had a comparatively short life—maybe 100 years, often less, then they disappear,” the artists said of their work. “It seemed important to keep them in some way and photography seemed the most appropriate way to do that.” Bernd Becher was born on August 20, 1931 in Siegen, Germany, and Hilla Wobeser was born on September 2, 1934 in Potsdam, Germany. They met one another while studying painting at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, their romance prompting a collaborative career. Their working methods and techniques influenced a generation of photographers now known as the Düsseldorf School, which includes Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, and Candida Höfer. Bernd died on June 22, 2007 in Rostock, Germany, while Hilla died on October 15, 2015 in Düsseldorf, Germany. Today, their works are included in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Tate Gallery in London.

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Bernd and Hilla Becher Artworks

Artworks for Sale &
Auction Results

Bernd and Hilla Becher (1,425 results)
Water Tower, Trier-Ehrang, Germany; Water..., 1982

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Water Tower, Trier-Ehrang, Germany; Water..., 1982

Sale Date: September 21, 2012

Auction Closed

5 Ansichten eines Kalksilos in..., 1970–1975

Bernd and Hilla Becher

5 Ansichten eines Kalksilos in..., 1970–1975

Sale Date: June 20, 2012

Auction Closed

Fachwerkhäuser (Giebelseiten) (12 works), 1959–1973

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Fachwerkhäuser (Giebelseiten) (12 works), 1959–1973

Sale Date: June 20, 2012

Auction Closed

Wasserturm, Kirkhamgate, Leeds, GB, pl.3..., 1975

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wasserturm, Kirkhamgate, Leeds, GB, pl.3..., 1975

Sale Date: June 7, 2012

Auction Closed

Spherical gas tank, Wesserling, near..., 1984–1989

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Spherical gas tank, Wesserling, near..., 1984–1989

Sale Date: May 31, 2012

Auction Closed

Kühlturm (Stahlwerk Hagen-Haspe), 1969

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Kühlturm (Stahlwerk Hagen-Haspe), 1969

Sale Date: May 25, 2012

Auction Closed

Drei Strommasten und drei Hochöfen, 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Drei Strommasten und drei Hochöfen, 1971

Sale Date: May 25, 2012

Auction Closed

Box Industriebauten, 1968

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Box Industriebauten, 1968

Sale Date: May 30, 2012

Auction Closed

Zeche Hugo, Ruhrgebiet, 1967

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Zeche Hugo, Ruhrgebiet, 1967

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Gasbehälter bei Wuppertal, 1966

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Gasbehälter bei Wuppertal, 1966

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Kalköfen Harlingen, 1963

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Kalköfen Harlingen, 1963

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Transformator Bous, Saargebiet, 1970

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Transformator Bous, Saargebiet, 1970

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Fördertürme, 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Fördertürme, 1971

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Fachwerkhäuser (6 works), 1962–1972

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Fachwerkhäuser (6 works), 1962–1972

Sale Date: May 23, 2012

Auction Closed

Förderturm Zeche Waltrop (leporello in 5..., 1982

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Förderturm Zeche Waltrop (leporello in 5..., 1982

Sale Date: May 24, 2012

Auction Closed

Förderturmköpfe, 2005

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Förderturmköpfe, 2005

Sale Date: May 24, 2012

Auction Closed

Fördertürme, 1971

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Fördertürme, 1971

Sale Date: May 24, 2012

Auction Closed

Wassertürme (2 works)

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Wassertürme (2 works)

Sale Date: May 5, 2012

Auction Closed

Stahl coal, Goodspring Mountains, Schuylkill , 1975

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Stahl coal, Goodspring Mountains, Schuylkill , 1975

Sale Date: April 4, 2012

Auction Closed

Watertower, Recklinghausen, Ruhr, ca. 1910, 1967

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Watertower, Recklinghausen, Ruhr, ca. 1910, 1967

Sale Date: April 3, 2012

Auction Closed

Youngstown works blast furnace 3, 1981

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Youngstown works blast furnace 3, 1981

Sale Date: April 4, 2012

Auction Closed

Coal Tipple, Goodspring, PA (4 works), 1975

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Coal Tipple, Goodspring, PA (4 works), 1975

Sale Date: April 5, 2012

Auction Closed

Hochöfenwerk Belval Esch-Alzette, Luxembourg, 1997

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Hochöfenwerk Belval Esch-Alzette, Luxembourg, 1997

Sale Date: April 5, 2012

Auction Closed

Ohne Titel (Förderturm)

Bernd and Hilla Becher

Ohne Titel (Förderturm)

Sale Date: March 24, 2012

Auction Closed

English (US)

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