Bernd and Hilla Becher's industrial art

To photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher, the rapidly vanishing industrial architecture of Western Europe and North America were works of art. The German couple's documentary images of transmission towers, gas tanks, blast furnaces and smokestacks - structures that signified the end of an industrial era - are being celebrated in a comprehensive retrospective now at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Lee Cowan offers us a tour.
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[@briangarrow448]

As a former journeyman Boilermaker, I constructed a few industrial pieces of art in my career. And I often considered them pieces of art for their beauty and simplicity of function. Water tower tanks were often the central focus of identification for many small towns across the United States. How often did we drive to a new location and sight the city water tower to note that we were within minutes of entering this new community? Having driven across this country many times, I often looked for the sight of a water tower to announce that a new town was close.

[@cynthiahonorio9758]

A respectful homage to a photographer-couple's work! Thank you

[@robzphotoz5465]

Thank you for showcasing these wonderful photographers behind the camera and the great architects and engineers in front of the camera! ❤

[@chrisbouthiette1129]

I saw these at the Met in NYC and was totally blown away. So glad to see them here!

[@Davett53]

As an artist, and architecture lover I have always collected images industrial buildings and things like water towers, smoke stacks, and anything documenting the Industrial Revolution. I grew up in Cleveland, Ohio which for many years was a steel producing town. There was a whole area dedicated to smelting iron ore, and aluminum. We lived in a suburb, about 45 minutes away, but to get into the city we had to drive near the industrial areas. That area was called "The Flats",...and it was built on the snaking river, called the Cuyahoga River, which huge barges had to navigate, daily coming in off of Lake Erie. Bringing in the Iron ore and coal, leaving with it processed into ingots, to be sent to Detroit where it was turned into automobiles. Dramatic views were everywhere, huge smelting plants, hundreds of tall smoke stacks, always billowing black sooty smoke. Almost all the artists who grew up in Cleveland, eventually incorporated things we'd seen our whole lives,.....in the background. Those factories, mountains of raw coal, the smoke stacks and machinery,....barges, and miles long rail road cars hauling in coal, or shipping ingots to the other manufacturing hubs.

[@edwardparkhurst9804]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@jeanetteschock4744]

I had the pleasure of walking through Manhattan on a perfect September night. Shot the water towers

[@drumcircler]

Photographers are our historians.

[@wordwarrior2350]

They were accepted as "Art" by local art galleries first. They are not what is called, "Art Photography" they are as said a bit later, Documentary Photography. It is a fact that the Bechers studied art and were seen as artists. Art is harder than religion and politics when one trying to define the many different levels. For example, the word, "Images" replaced the word, "Photographs" as the prices of photographs moved higher, and from antique stores to photo galleries.

[@DETROIT1948]

Those Who Cannot Appreciate The Art's Cannot Appreciate Life.

[@wordwarrior2350]

It is interesting that SFMOMA was the first museum of modern art in the west to show German photography. That is worth looking int to.

[@chrisbouthiette1129]

This exhibit is rotating. I saw it in NYC Met this fall.

[@wordwarrior2350]

@@chrisbouthiette1129 Congratulations. I used to live in NYC and I knew the Bechers. Isn`t that interesting?

[@manpok313]

Mantap👌👍✊

[@jaysartori9032]

Why can't any one see my work!?

[@Ponygerl33]

Show me!!!!

[@jaysartori9032]

@@Ponygerl33 I don't know how to on youtube?

[@randb4865]

Art: Step 1: create something. Step 2: convince others that it's something.

[@jaysartori9032]

@@randb4865 Step one done step two done plus website. I do have to update it

[@zainzain8679]

@@jaysartori9032 update us all plz

[@DmonDhaBoss]

Whoever stumbled upon this video. Expand your mind.

[@callmemonkh9020]

SALUTE! To Hilla & Bernd...

[@janetunderhill6175]

I did my best to chronicle Chicago's water tanks, just as they were disappearing, thanks to a changed City ordinance. SolitarySentinels