Couple from Iqlim El Kharrub. Studio Shehrazade, Saida, Lebanon, 1973-74. Hashem el Madani 2007

Editor: So, this is "Couple from Iqlim El Kharrub," taken between 1973 and 1974 at Studio Shehrazade in Saida, Lebanon, part of Akram Zaatari's work featuring the photography of Hashem el Madani. It’s a simple wedding portrait, but there’s something so solemn and staged about it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: It's like a perfectly preserved moment, isn't it? I think of old film reels, a time capsule of Lebanese society. The backdrop, the couple's attire – it all whispers stories of tradition and expectation. But there’s also a universal quality, wouldn’t you agree? Doesn't it also makes you think of the rituals surrounding marriage, and the performance inherent in these formal portraits? Editor: Definitely. It makes me wonder about their lives beyond this single frame. Curator: Exactly! It's the beauty of photography, isn't it? To spark curiosity beyond the image itself. It is nice to feel that we learn about ourselves when seeing images of others.