Leerlingen van Schule Schloss Salem tijdens hun ochtendloop c. 1929

This photograph depicts students of Schule Schloss Salem during their morning run. The image likely dates from the interwar period in Germany, when Salem was a progressive boarding school founded on principles of physical and moral education. The photo's visual codes evoke the emphasis on athleticism and discipline characteristic of the school's philosophy. Schloss Salem was founded in 1920 by educator Kurt Hahn, who aimed to cultivate a new generation of leaders committed to democratic values, very different from other elite boarding schools at the time. Understanding this image requires us to consider the complex social and political context of Germany. Further research into the school's archives and the writings of its founders would offer more insight into the photograph’s meaning. The historian examines photographs like this one as documents of cultural and institutional history.