In Memoriam: Hilla Becher
Bernd and Hilla Becher, Cooling Towers, 1983. Gelatin silver prints; 12 parts, each: 20 x 16 in. (50.8 x 40.6 cm). Collection Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Gerald S. Elliott Collection; 1995.31.a–l. © 1983 Bernd and Hilla Becher
Photo © MCA ChicagoAbout
Earlier this week we were saddened to learn about the passing of photographer Hilla Becher. With her husband Bernd, the Bechers produced iconic black-and-white images of industry, often arranged in grids. They taught at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, and the "Becher School" was highly influential on subsequent generations of German photographers including Candida Höfer, Andreas Gursky, Thomas Struth, and Thomas Ruff, all of whom also have artwork in the MCA Collection.