Winding Tower, Beringen Mijn, Beringen

Description

German couple Bernd and Hilla Becher are known for their coolly detached studies of industrial and building architectures in Europe and North America. Their stark, monochromatic work is typically displayed in grids of multiple images that highlight both the commonalities and differences in the form and function of the structures. In this photograph, the complex structure and the elaborate ornamentation of its parts are given equal importance. This photograph is noteworthy within the Bechers’ oeuvre because it includes human figures and even a rare self-portrait: Hilla can be seen standing in the upper reaches of the tower, along with an unidentified man on a platform below.