bücher 1933 exhibit at Hauser and Wirth Publishers
Cover of the 1933 catalog of the Dr. Oprecht und Helbling bookstore, Zurich. Design by Max Bill @ 2023, ProLitteris, Zurich
Adolf Hitler was appointed German chancellor on January 30, 1933. The following months would shape the path of history in remembrance that still terrorizes the world today. Followers of the Nazi party and their allies turned Germany into a dictatorship. On May 10, 1933, groups of students gathered throughout Germany for a book burning as Nazi Party members labeled thousands of books as an “un-German Spirit.” Similar demonstrations occurred in other parts of Europe and cities across North America.
Thomas Mann and Emil Oprecht, 1937 © ETH-Bibliothek Zürich, Thomas-Mann-Archiv. Photo: Emil Berna
It’s been ninety years since the Nazi book burnings. Emil and Emmie Oprecht were essential supporters of writers opposed to the Nazi regime. Hauser & Wirth Publishers bookstore in Zurich is presenting an exhibition examining how Emil and Emmie Oprecht used publishing to educate and inform the public about fascism and provide opposition to Hitler’s and Mussolini’s political ideals. The Oprechts founded a vital bookstore and publishing company at the center of Zurich’s cultural quarter at Rämistrasse, where Hauser & Wirth Publishers is today.
Rämistrasse, Zurich, 1939 © Baugeschichtliches Archiv Zürich
During the 1930s, the Oprechts were publishers of literary works by emigré authors in the Dr. Oprecht and Europa publishing houses, providing a platform for thinkers, philosophers, and poets.
All images:
Installation view, ‘bücher 1933’ at Hauser & Wirth Publishers, 15 April – 25 May 2023 © Hauser & Wirth Publishers. Courtesy Hauser & Wirth Publishers. Photo: Jon Etter
With the ‘bücher 1933’ exhibition, Hauser & Wirth Publishers at Rämistrasse becomes an important space to muse on the effects of the Nazi overtaking of power and the vital role of Dr. Oprecht and Europa publishing houses during these times. The exhibition presents a selection of works by Annette Kelm and a dedicated reading corner with titles from Lars Müller Publishers, Scheidegger & Spiess/Park Books, and Limmat Verlag.
Please visit their site for more information about Hauser & Wirth Publishers and this vital exhibit ’bücher 1933’, about history, which runs until May 25, 2023.
