Editorial

In Memoriam: Hilla Becher

(1934–2015)

Black-and-white photographs of twelve cooling towers hung in two horizontal rows

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.

Photo: © MCA Chicago © 1983 Bernd and Hilla Becher

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.

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Discover Hilla Becher's history with the MCA.

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