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Bernd and Hilla Becher — Water Tower Typology
Bernd and Hilla Becher

Water Tower Typology

1979

Four gelatin silver prints are arranged in a grid, each depicting an industrial water tower photographed with exacting precision against a neutral, overcast sky. The Bechers' signature typological method presents each structure in strict frontal elevation, stripped of environmental context, allowing the viewer to compare subtle variations in form, material, and construction across the series. The cool, documentary aesthetic transforms these utilitarian objects into a systematic study of anonymous industrial architecture.

Medium
gelatin silver print, in 4 parts

🔨 Auction Lot

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale

October 4, 2018

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About this work

Bernd and Hilla Becher, Water Tower Typology, 1979

Four gelatin silver prints are arranged in a grid, each depicting an industrial water tower photographed with exacting precision against a neutral, overcast sky. The Bechers' signature typological method presents each structure in strict frontal elevation, stripped of environmental context, allowing the viewer to compare subtle variations in form, material, and construction across the series. The cool, documentary aesthetic transforms these utilitarian objects into a systematic study of anonymous industrial architecture.

Medium
gelatin silver print, in 4 parts
Year
1979
Seen at
Phillips, New York, London, Hong Kong

Related themes

Conceptual Photography, 20th Century, Husband And Wife Duo, Typological Series, Düsseldorf School, Grid Format, Gelatin Silver Print, Objective Style, German Artists, Industrial Architecture, Black and White

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