As a revolutionary educational book featuring hundreds of black-and-white photographs of nude children, adolescents, and adults, Zeig Mal defied 1970s societal norms. Its impact was massive, blending artistic candidness with a progressive, permissive philosophy of education. Background: The Need for Zeig Mal
Critics argued the images bordered on child pornography, while supporters maintained they were harmless depictions of innocence and biological fact. The debate highlighted the stark cultural divide between the more open attitudes toward nudity in Germany and the more conservative mores of the United States at the time.
Before Zeig Mal! , Will McBride had already established himself as a prominent documentary photographer, capturing historical eras like the Adenauer and Kennedy years for major German publications. In 1971, he collaborated on The Sex Book: A Modern Pictorial Encyclopedia , which pioneered the use of frank, explicit visual imagery to educate young adults.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri, McBride moved to Germany in the 1950s after serving in the U.S. Army. He quickly established himself as a premier chronicler of youth culture, capturing the raw energy, vulnerability, and hope of a generation shedding the rigid trauma and guilt of the Nazi era. His works regularly appeared in Twen , an influential and avant-garde German youth magazine known for its bold layout and progressive attitudes toward sexuality. zeig mal will mcbride
By the 1990s, the rise of modern child protection laws led to a re-evaluation of the book. Critics argued that the depictions of children in sexualized contexts—regardless of the educational intent—crossed the line into child pornography. Legal challenges followed, and the book was eventually banned or restricted in several countries. In the United States, it was frequently targeted by conservative groups, leading to its withdrawal from many libraries and bookstores. Legacy and Modern Perspective The legacy of
So next time you pick up a camera, whisper to yourself: Zeig mal.
The American legal system was not the only source of censorship. McBride's work was also a target in his adopted home. His photographs, which often focused on the male body, had already stirred controversy when Twen published a portrait of his pregnant wife, Barbara, in 1960. Throughout his career, Will McBride was a man at odds with authority, but his drive to show the truth of the human experience never waned. As a revolutionary educational book featuring hundreds of
McBride’s technical signature was the use of and motion blur . He did not want sterile, posed portraits. He wanted life — messy, breathing, moving life.
(For Klaus. For the pictures we must not forget.)
In the early 1970s, comprehensive sex education was rare, and many adults found it difficult to discuss sexuality with children. Will McBride, a talented photographer known for his candid, raw, and emotional photographic style, was approached to collaborate on a book that would fill this educational gap. The debate highlighted the stark cultural divide between
With this background, we arrive at the work most associated with the keyword: Zeig mal! . The German phrase is a gentle request, often used by parents to encourage a child to proudly show something, making the title itself a complex and ironic choice for the firestorm it would create.
The 1975 publication of Zeig Mal! (published in English as Show Me! ) marked a pivotal and highly controversial moment in the history of photography, sex education, and visual culture. Photographed by Will McBride and written by psychiatrist Helga Fleischhauer-Hardt, the book was conceived as a progressive, candid guide to human sexuality for children and parents. While praised by many contemporary psychologists and educators as a landmark achievement in open communication, it later became a lightning rod for intense legal, ethical, and cultural debates regarding the boundaries of art, education, and child protection. The Genesis and Philosophy of the Project
“Klaus,” Will said, standing up. “You want me to show you something real? Help me carry my bag.”
Zeig Mal Will McBride: A Landmark in Sex Education and Photographic Art