Student of Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls. Haydar. School courtyard, Saida, Lebanon, 1948-49. Hashem el Madani 2007

Curator: It’s haunting, isn’t it? That direct gaze against the worn stone, the chair almost like a shield. Editor: Indeed. The photograph, taken by Hashem el Madani around 1948-49, shows a student at the Aisha Om el Mo’minin School for Girls in Saida, Lebanon. It’s part of a larger project by Akram Zaatari. It makes one consider the visual construction of identity in post-colonial Lebanon. Curator: Precisely! I see such vulnerability. The pristine dress, the bow… yet her eyes hold a knowing, a strength that transcends the setting. Does the chair represent societal expectations, or perhaps a fragile sense of self about to be confronted? Editor: I see it as both, actually. There’s a tension in the image, a girl posed for a portrait, but also pushing against those very constraints through her expression, her stance. Curator: Makes you wonder about her story, doesn’t it? What became of this young woman, her dreams, her challenges in a rapidly changing world. Editor: Absolutely. This image prompts us to engage with the histories of gender, education, and representation in the region. Curator: It is more than just a photograph; it is a poignant glimpse into a life, frozen in time, yet still speaking volumes. Editor: A testament to the power of the archive, and its ability to spark vital dialogues across generations.