Groepsportret van toneelspelers als het Oostenrijkse leger tijdens de Calven-Feier te Chur before 1899

Lienhard and Salzborn created this group portrait of actors dressed as the Austrian army during the Calven Feier in Chur. Although the exact date of its making is not known, we can understand this photo within the context of historical reenactments and performative nationalism. This image encapsulates the complex interplay between performance, national identity, and historical memory. The Calven Feier itself was a commemoration of a historical event, restaged here with theatrical flair. The actors, in their costumes, embody a version of history but also perform it for the camera, playing with notions of authenticity and representation. What does it mean to reenact history, especially one involving military conflict? How does dressing up and performing these roles shape the players' understanding of their national story? The image prompts us to consider the emotional and ideological weight of these performances, and how they contribute to the construction of shared cultural narratives.