Schüler Schmeissen Wasser beim Waschen
This photograph titled “Schüler schmeissen Wasser beim Waschen – Schule Schloss Salem” is a part of the iconic Will McBride Salem Suite. Captured in the 1960s, this silver gelatin print measures 36.50 x 53.50 cm (photo) and 58.20 x 77.00 cm framed. It’s a signed, dated, and numbered 8/12 later edition.
The image captures a vibrant and candid moment of schoolboys washing and playfully splashing water in a shared bathroom. One boy dominates the foreground, pouring water over his face with a dynamic, almost theatrical gesture. Around him, others are mid-action—laughing, scrubbing, or staring into the mirror. The entire scene bursts with movement, spontaneity, and youthful energy.
As part of the Will McBride Salem Suite, this work reflects McBride’s honest and empathetic approach to adolescence. He documents boys not just as subjects, but as active participants in their own coming-of-age stories. Importantly, McBride avoids sensationalism. Instead, he turns the ordinary—such as a group washroom—into something lyrical and deeply human.
The photo was published in Salem Suite (Salzberger & Co, Berlin, 2014) and shown in the 2015 exhibition at ClampArt Gallery in New York. These platforms helped cement the Salem Suite’s reputation as a profound exploration of youth and identity.
To explore related work, visit our internal post on Photography and Adolescent Ritual in 20th-Century Art, or see the artist’s legacy at ClampArt Gallery.
Will McBride
Will McBride (1931–2015) redefined how photography could portray adolescence. The Will McBride Salem Suite series, including this vibrant image, highlights his gift for capturing fleeting, unguarded moments of growth, community, and rebellion. His lens sees beauty in the everyday—with clarity, affection, and respect.
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