“The Underwater Cabaret”

This small, easily-concealable publication was produced by Curt Bloch from August 1943 until  May 1945, while he was in hiding during the Nazi occupation of Holland.  The title reflects a Dutch euphemism for being underground or going into hiding.

In total, Bloch produced 95 of these hand-made magazines, which included art, poetry, and songs mocking the Nazis, their Dutch collaborators, and reflected on war-time conditions. 

The magazines, of which only a single copy was produced, were shared among a small trusted group. 

For the full story see the NYTimes article, “He Made a Magazine, 95 Issues, While Hiding From the Nazis in an Attic.” 

It's a wonder that Bloch produced these and that they survived his emigration to New York for his daughter to discover after his death.  I can imagine that producing these magazines helped him survive the 20 months hidden away. The hand-cut and hand-drawn type, use of color, the emphatic use of imagery, and the collages all seem remarkable.