Behind the Scenes: Work in the Photo Archive

On one of the last days of May, circus historian Christoph Enzinger immersed himself in the photo archive of the Circus- & Clownmuseum. On his desk lay black-and-white photos of performers – aerial numbers, handstands, equilibristics, and acrobatic figures rarely seen in this form today.

Anyone who takes a look behind the scenes quickly sees how large the task is: several archive rooms full of shelves, folders, boxes, and binders, plus an office that is both a workspace and a small circus picture gallery. Photos are constantly being sorted, labeled, and cross-referenced with program leaflets, posters, and notes so that it is clear later which artist, which troupe, which venue, or which year is shown.

The real challenge lies in the fact that new material is constantly being added: artists’ estates, donations, finds from antiquarian bookshops, or additions to already known acts. Each individual piece must be integrated into the existing system in such a way that it is not only stored safely but can also be found again – whether for an exhibition, a research inquiry, or simply a look into circus history.

Working on these photos is therefore always also work on the structure of the collection: every careful classification creates another trail that someone can follow later – and prevents rare images from disappearing into an anonymous “pile of material.”