Samengesteld groepsportret van toneelspelers in kostuum tijdens de Calven-Feier te Chur before 1899

This composite group portrait of actors in costume during the Calven celebration in Chur was created by Lienhard & Salzborn. These carefully arranged images offer a glimpse into the cultural life and historical memory of a community. The Calven celebration itself likely commemorates a significant historical event, and the costumes worn by the actors reflect an attempt to embody and reenact the past. Consider how historical dramas, and performative acts of remembrance, can reinforce particular narratives and identities. Who gets to participate in these narratives, and whose stories are being told? The portrait, in its staged formality, invites us to reflect on the relationship between performance, history, and identity. It also emphasizes how communities collectively engage with their past to shape their present and future.