JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<div><a class="rear">&nbsp;</a><a class="center"><img src="http://placehold.it/40x40" /></a><a class="rear">&nbsp;</a></div>

CSS

div a {
    display: inline-block;
    width: 40px;
    background: #f00;
    vertical-align:top;
}

div a.center {
    line-height: 0px;
}

div a.rear {
    height: 100%;
}