Biography

Hilla Becher

1934

Born September 2 in Postdam, trained as a photographer, then works as a commercial photographer in Hamburg and Düsseldorf

1957

Moves to Düsseldorf

1958–1961

Studies and sets up a Photography Department at the Staatliche Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf

Bernhard Becher

1931

Born August 20 in Siegen

1947–1950

Apprenticeship as an interior decorator

1951

Spends time in Italy

1953–1956

Studies at the Staatliche Kunstakademie in Stuttgart under Karl Rössing

1957

Takes his first photographs of industrial plants

1957-1961

Studies typography at the Staatliche Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf

1959

Starts collaborating with Hilla Wobeser

1961

Bernd Becher and Hilla Wobeser marry

1961-1965

They photograph predominantly in the industrial districts in the Siegen and Ruhr Regions, as well as in Holland

1963

They start taking photos of Ruhr mines, cement works in Southern Germany and lime works in Holland

1964

They make their first pictures in industrial districts in Belgium, France and Luxembourg

1965

They start photographing mines in England, Wales and Scotland

1966

Working trip to England supported by a six-month British Council stipend

1966-1967

Work concentrates on photos in France and Luxembourg

1968

Photos taken in the USA

1970

Guest lectureship at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg

1974

Photography work in the USA

1974-1989

Ongoing photo work in west European industrial regions

1976-1998

Bernd Becher is Professor of Photography at the Staatliche Kunstakademie in Düsseldorf

22. Juni 2007

Bernd Becher dies