The Bechers in Ohio, 1987 | From the Vaults

This short, silent film documents a typical day or two in the life of the Bechers while on a road trip through the American heartland. Filmed in 1987 by their son, Max, and edited by him in 2022 for the exhibition Bernd & Hilla Becher, the footage offers an enchanting glimpse of the artists’ working lives. It records them driving their ubiquitous VW bus, moving heavy equipment in and out of a motel room, eating a quick lunch, taking a nap, positioning the camera to photograph a grain elevator, and even manipulating certain aspects of the physical environment to suit their needs. Learn more about the exhibition here: Collection of Max Becher © Max Becher Subscribe for new content from The Met: #TheMet #Art #TheMetropolitanMuseumofArt #Museum © 2022 The Metropolitan Museum of Art