Students of Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls. Ibtissam Hashisho (right) and a school friend. School courtyard, Saida, Lebanon, 1948-49. Hashem el Madani 2007

Curator: This photograph by Akram Zaatari, taken from Hashem el Madani's series in 1948-49, captures two students from Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls in Saida, Lebanon. It's a silver gelatin print. Editor: It's striking how the formality of their pose contrasts with the worn texture of the courtyard. There’s a sense of quiet resilience about it. Curator: Absolutely. Madani's framing isolates the girls and that fruit-laden tablecloth against the rough wall, emphasizing a cultural intersection. Editor: Yes, the fruit tablecloth almost feels like a still life element introduced into a portrait, disrupting the implied context. The symbolism feels both personal and broadly cultural. Curator: Madani was capturing a very specific moment in Lebanese society, documenting its evolving identity through everyday portraiture. Editor: I appreciate the way the photograph makes us contemplate the girls' futures, hinting at the possibilities and constraints their society might impose. Curator: A poignant reminder of shared histories, wouldn’t you say? Editor: Indeed. A glimpse into a past that still speaks volumes.