Students of Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls. Sakakini (right) and Hadiyeh Bsat. School courtyard, Saida, Lebanon, 1948-49. Hashem el Madani 2007

Curator: This photograph, taken in 1948-49 by Hashem el Madani, is titled "Students of Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls." It depicts Sakakini and Hadiyeh Bsat in their school courtyard in Saida, Lebanon. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the composition. It feels so balanced, almost symmetrical, yet there's a beautiful stillness, a quiet gravity to the image. Curator: The girls' white bows and collars create a powerful visual motif. In many cultures, white symbolizes purity and new beginnings, hinting at the transformative power of education. Editor: It's like they're holding space, these two figures. The somewhat austere background contrasts with the decorative tablecloth, suggesting resilience and dignity amidst a difficult postwar era. Curator: It's interesting that you say that. Akram Zaatari, who inherited Madani’s archive, saw the studio portraits as incredibly performative, far from these seemingly naturalistic shots. Editor: It's a poignant image that invites us to consider not only the individual stories of these students but also the wider context of a society rebuilding itself through education and hope. The very act of documenting is an act of preserving cultural memory. Curator: Absolutely. It’s an image that encapsulates a moment, but also speaks to the enduring power of hope.