Groepsportret van Nederlandse patiënten uit het ziekenhuis van het Rode Kruis in Herisau, Zwitserland, die samen met Isabel Wachenheimer verbleven in dit ziekenhuis Possibly 1945 - 1947

Curator: This photograph, a gelatin-silver print likely taken between 1945 and 1947, is titled "Groepsportret van Nederlandse patiënten uit het ziekenhuis van het Rode Kruis in Herisau, Zwitserland, die samen met Isabel Wachenheimer verbleven in dit ziekenhuis"—quite a mouthful! Editor: It is! My first impression is one of… fragility, actually. Not of the print itself, though the edges look delicate, but the collective air of these individuals. They’re gathered together, but something in their expressions suggests they’ve been through something profound. Curator: Absolutely. Switzerland, during and after the Second World War, served as a sanctuary. Many sought refuge and medical treatment there. This image provides a fascinating window into that historical moment— the politics of neutrality but also the realities of human suffering needing support. Editor: I notice the setting too. A rather institutional building in the background and a sloping grassy hill suggests they're set apart, almost isolated in this convalescence. They seem very self-contained, not posing for posterity but for each other. Almost performing… normality? Curator: That's astute. Consider the role photography played in shaping collective memory. A group portrait such as this was likely very carefully arranged in ways which could reassert a damaged social order but it would also likely offer hope, a record of survival to loved ones left behind. A statement to the future? Editor: It is amazing that some are in uniform here, and one character is almost horizontal. Perhaps they were placed there? They each seem to contain their private memories while simultaneously projecting a united front. What complexities, really! Curator: And think about Isabel Wachenheimer, who is mentioned in the title of this group photo. Why specify that they resided with her? What’s her significance in the story of these patients, this particular space in Switzerland? Editor: Yes, a question hanging in the air around these solemn but hopeful faces. Seeing them through this historical lens reveals stories wanting to be explored more broadly through various media and multiple platforms. Thank you for pointing out some of these features. Curator: Indeed, may this glimpse into their story move our visitor to reflect more broadly about war and health, trauma and the process of human recuperation. It has given me a few good ideas as well.