The institution responsible for gathering a treasure-trove of memory and saving an impressive body of archives from photo studios has approached the theme “Together” with originality and detachment tinged with humor. In this strange collection of images, the photographer’s shadow is always visible, and it’s unclear whether or not its presence is intentional, a self-portrait without a self. Selected between 1920 and 1960, the photographs are all interesting for different reasons. It’s a shame that the reproductions are mediocre and their uniform size is either unjustified or detrimental to the overall effect. But the splendor of the venue makes up for it all. The view of Amman from the Dar Al Anda gallery is one-of-a-kind, like its founder and director, and I was pleased to be able to purchase two books devoted to the Saida photographer Hashem El Madani, which belong on the shelf alongside the great vernacular portrait collections.
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