Becher and Becher

Hochofenköpfe, 1963-95

Whilst talking to Lee about Charles Sheeler the other day we came round in the conversation to Becher and Becher the husband and wife duo photography-combo. Their representations of different industrial buildings and structures in a very stark, clean fashion without any distraction from human presence or “event” was what made us take the jump from Sheeler to Becher and Becher. To ensure the consistency of the representation so that the viewer wouldn’t even be able to discern what the weather was like as even a sunny day can create too much of a dramatic effect they only photographed on overcast days. This level of consistency becomes incredible when a whole collection is viewed, there is something about the monotonous photographs that carries a very raw power and really conveys a good idea of what that particular typology is. The photos are more like objective documents of a specimen in a scientific laboratory, they plainly show what the focus is so that others can interpret and learn from them in their own way. The photographer hasn’t dictated what the viewer should take from the photograph.

Sheeler and Becher and Becher both portray industrial structures and whilst their works by the very nature make no comment on what they feel about the subject of their work, it never the less reflects some of the concerns that these structures cause; alienation, banality, brutal ugliness, industrially damaged landscapes etc. They also reflect the exciting drama of this purely functional and efficient machine landscapes. Sheeler was commissioned by Ford to take photographs of the River Rouge plant, the pride of the industrial world and Becher and Becher’s work highlighted the need to preserve many of the disused industrial structures they were documenting. I quite enjoy not being told what I should think even though or possibly because I have been brought up a Catholic. Perhaps this is why I enjoy the work of these three/two artists, or perhaps it is just because they are AWESOME.

Gas Tanks, 1983-92

Pitheads, 1974

Water Towers, 1980