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Water Towers

Bernd and Hilla Becher German

Not on view

These Polaroids offer evidence of the Bechers’ methodical practice and thorough efforts to build a vast collection of industrial imagery. Once the artists had identified a site to explore, significant advance planning was required to seek permission in writing from company executives, meet with representatives at the mines, and secure access permits. Often, while on the road, they happened upon potentially interesting structures that they only had time to record in quick snapshots or sketches. These then became valuable notes for the next road trip.

Water Towers, Bernd and Hilla Becher (German, active 1959–2007), Instant diffusion transfer prints (Polaroids)

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