exhibit gallery with white walls and wood vitrines

The Exhibition Program

The George A. Smathers Libraries have an active exhibition program that shares, interprets, and promotes the collections. Exhibits support and enhance the Libraries’ role as an intellectual center of the university.

Now on view

SMATHERS LIBRARY GALLERY

Animating Hope: Izaak and Bertie Cohen's Puppet Theater

During the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, Izaak (Ike) and Bertha (Bertie) Cohen hid in Rotterdam. Concealed in the upstairs apartment of Nico Dane and Gien Dane-Verkouter, the couple were often forced to hide in a narrow closet behind a staircase. In this confined space and under these dangerous conditions, the Cohens created a puppet theater. Ike carved the wooden hand puppets while Bertie sewed costumes and painted the figures’ faces. Inspired by classic fairy tales, they used the puppets to stage clandestine performances for local children. Their identities remained a secret, and their presence obscured. These performances transformed an environment of fear into one of hope.

Line drawing of a sleeved arm manipulating a hand puppet between light blue, drawn stage curtains. The arm sleeve has a Jewish star similar to those forced to be worn during World War II.

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