[Photo provided to China Daily]

The influential German artist duo Bernd (1931-2007) and Hilla Becher (1934-2015) initiated a movement in photography in the mid-1970s. Their groundbreaking work changed people's understanding of photography.

For them, photography was no longer a reflection of reality but became a way to express conceptual ideas.

The style they developed was called the Dusseldorf School of Photography, as the couple taught at the Art Academy in the city of Dusseldorf, Germany. Many of their students embraced the movement in their creations.

Photos by Bernd and other German artists influenced by him are featured at an exhibition titled Language of Photography now on at the Minsheng Art Museum Beijing through Sunday.

The photos include Bernd's most famous series of industrial buildings, Thomas Struth’s snapshots of natural landscapes and portraits by Katharina Sieverding.