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History of a Methodology
History of a Methodology
January 14, 2026
Bernd and Hilla Becher: Blast Furnace, c. 1930, Blast Furnace Plant, Esch, Luxembourg © Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher; courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne
Bernd and Hilla Becher set new standards in the history of photography. From 1959 onwards, the couple worked almost continuously on their joint oeuvre, developed over the course of decades in Germany, the Benelux countries, Great Britain, France, Italy, Canada and the USA. Their artistic style – characterised by an objective documentary visual language and rooted in a systematic methodology – earned considerable acclaim, particularly in the world of minimalist and conceptual art.
For the first time in Europe, the Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur in Cologne presents a comprehensive showcase of the artist duo’s work – comprising more than 300 original black and white photographs, complemented by additional materials. The exhibition illustrates the diversity and depth of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s œuvre, both in terms of content and form.
At the centre of the presentation are the methods and typologies developed by the two artists: consistent, strategic approaches that they applied in varying scenarios over the course of decades. The showcase illustrates the origins and evolution of these methods – along with the underlying perspectives on different types of industrial buildings, their functionality and their integration into the surrounding landscape.
Katrin UllmannFor the first time in Europe, the Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur in Cologne presents a comprehensive showcase of the artist duo’s work – comprising more than 300 original black and white photographs, complemented by additional materials. The exhibition illustrates the diversity and depth of Bernd and Hilla Becher’s œuvre, both in terms of content and form.
At the centre of the presentation are the methods and typologies developed by the two artists: consistent, strategic approaches that they applied in varying scenarios over the course of decades. The showcase illustrates the origins and evolution of these methods – along with the underlying perspectives on different types of industrial buildings, their functionality and their integration into the surrounding landscape.
Bernd and Hilla Becher: Blast Furnace, c. 1930, Blast Furnace Plant, Esch, Luxembourg © Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher; courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne
Bernd and Hilla Becher: Essen-Schönebeck, Germany 1981
© Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher; courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne
Bernd and Hilla Becher: Seven Sisters Pit, South Wales, GB 1966 © Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher, courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne, 2025
Hilla Becher: Sea Snail (Venus Comb), 1960s
© Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher; courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne
Hilla Becher: Plant Study, Photograms, 1960s
© Estate Bernd & Hilla Becher, represented by Max Becher; courtesy of Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur – Bernd and Hilla Becher Archive, Cologne