In 2004, the German Society for Photography (DGPh) honored him with its highest honor, the , for his life's work. In 2014, a triumphant retrospective at C/O Berlin titled "Ich war verliebt in diese Stadt" (I Was in Love with This City) brought his work full circle, showcasing his powerful early Berlin photographs from 1956 to 1963. Will McBride passed away in Berlin on January 29, 2015, at the age of 84.
In 1974, a groundbreaking and deeply controversial book emerged from Germany that redefined how children and parents approached the topic of human sexuality. That book was Zeig Mal! (Show Me!), a collaborative effort featuring intimate, artistic photography by American photographer Will McBride and text by Helga Fleischhauer-Hardt. It was not merely a textbook; it was a "picture book of sex for children and parents," aiming to remove the shame and secrecy surrounding bodily functions and sexual development.
As the political pendulum swung toward conservatism in the late 1970s and 1980s, Zeig Mal! became a lightning rod for legal battles. What was once celebrated as progressive education was increasingly viewed through a lens of obscenity and child protection. Era / Region Legal Status and Cultural Impact
In the years following its release, the approach to sex education continued to evolve. Modern resources often draw a distinction between providing factual biological information and the use of explicit visual media, leading to different standards for educational materials today than those present in the 1970s. 5. The Professional Legacy of Will McBride
One cold November afternoon, Will was leaning against a burned-out building near the Wall, fiddling with his Leica. A boy, maybe ten years old, appeared from a courtyard. His coat was too big. His shoes were held together with tape. But his eyes were old. zeig mal will mcbride
Zeig Mal! was structured to mimic a child's natural process of discovering the human body. The physical layout of the book was massive—an oversized folio featuring 125 high-contrast, grainy photogravures that captured the essence of 1970s counter-culture aesthetics. The Sex Book. A modern pictorial encyclopedia
At the time of its release, Zeig Mal! was endorsed by several prominent youth organizations and mental health professionals in Europe. It was viewed as a revolutionary departure from the era's clinical, diagram-based approach to sex education. By using real photography, McBride aimed to demystify the human body and promote a healthy, shame-free attitude toward self-discovery.
If that’s correct, the article would be about Will McBride, his book Zeig mal! , and the resulting debates. However, because the book’s contents have been legally contested and linked to child welfare concerns in Germany, any detailed article would risk violating content policies regarding sexually explicit material involving minors.
In his later years, McBride retreated somewhat from the public eye, moving to Tuscany to focus on painting and sculpture. However, as societal views on the body continue to evolve, there has been a renewed interest in his photographic archives. In 2004, the German Society for Photography (DGPh)
While it sold over a million copies globally and earned praise from progressive educational and church organizations, it later became a major target of censorship. Shifts in international child protection and child pornography laws altered how the book was legally viewed, turning it into a complex case study regarding the boundaries of art, education, and legal censorship. 1. Context and Origin: The Sexual Revolution
“Zeig mal, Will McBride. You showed me. Thank you.”
Have you seen McBride’s work? Was Zeig Mal! a radical document of liberation or an overstep? Let’s discuss in the comments.
The photographs were explicit, including images of pre-adolescents touching each other's genitals, a child inserting a finger into his anus, and an erect penis of a minor. The goal, however, was not pornography but education. The book aimed to normalize childhood sexuality and show it as an ordinary, healthy part of growing up. As McBride himself noted, “Zeig mal! was different... A photo book with comparatively little text and many pictures conveyed no theory”. In 1974, a groundbreaking and deeply controversial book
By the early 1970s, the Western world was in the throes of a major sexual revolution. The prevailing sentiment among progressive educators, psychologists, and artists was that systemic sexual repression, shame, and ignorance were harmful to childhood development. It was within this climate of "Aufklärung" (enlightenment) that Zeig Mal! was conceived.
Will McBride was an American-born photographer who lived most of his adult life in Germany. He is best known for his intimate, unflinching black-and-white documentary work about youth, sexuality, and coming-of-age in post-war Europe.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational and historical purposes. Readers are advised to obey all local laws regarding the possession and distribution of media depicting minors. Will McBride’s work should be studied in its full academic and artistic context, not as prurient material.
The book is structured around conversations and visual representations. It covers topics rarely discussed in educational contexts at the time, including: Anatomy of male and female bodies. Pubertal changes and menstruation. Masturbation and sexual pleasure. The sexual act. Contraception and pregnancy.