Silence is Compliance
An Ode to Wilma Schuhmacher, with Photos by Susan Zadeh
Forbidden Publications. The exhibition presents a selection of banned publications that circulated among small, trusted circles at the time. Poets, writers and artists used these works as silent acts of protest against the occupying forces.
A remarkable exhibition on clandestine printed matter from the Second World War. In the display cases of the Grote Sael, books, poems, and pamphlets that were secretly produced and distributed during the German occupation will be on view until 28 June 2026.
The works come from the collection of antiquarian bookseller Wilma Schuhmacher (1927–2025), who devoted her life to the freedom of the written word. Shortly before her death, she donated her collection to the Embassy of the Free Mind.
Opening on Liberation Day
The exhibition opens on 5 May 2026. According to curator Paul Dijstelberge, the date underscores the importance of free thought and free expression, particularly in times of oppression.
The Catalogue 'Silence is Complicity'
A catalogue accompanies the exhibition, featuring contributions on Schuhmacher, photography by Susan Zadeh and Emmy Andriesse, and an essay on clandestine publishing.
The catalogue is free for visitors under 18 on 5 May; thereafter, €10 in the museum shop.
About Wilma Schuhmacher
Schuhmacher joined the resistance at the age of sixteen, working as a courier. Her wartime experiences shaped a lifelong conviction: 'Those who do nothing are guilty.' She later built a renowned antiquarian bookshop and assembled a collection of clandestine publications, now held at the Embassy.
Photography by Susan Zadeh: Between the Shelves, She Remains
Alongside the printed matter, a photo series by Susan Zadeh is on display. In 2025, she documented the dismantled bookshop of Schuhmacher. Her images convey a hushed presence: a life devoted to books, now palpable in absence.
“I was invited into Schuhmacher Antiquarian after its doors had closed, long after the books had left. What remained was not empty—her presence lingered in the light, the walls, the quiet between shelves. These images are my attempt to capture that delicate, enduring spirit of the bookstore owner Wilma Schuhmacher.
The doors are closed, the books are gone, yet she lingers”.
- Susan Zadeh
Artist Website: www.susanzadeh.art
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