St. Gabriel, Louisiana 12 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this tintype, St. Gabriel, Louisiana, using a photographic process from the 1850s. It’s a small plate, and the image is a study in light and shadow, almost sepia-toned. What strikes me is the way the light catches the planes of the sitter's face and the soft fabric of her dress, creating this sense of depth and texture. You can almost feel the smoothness of her skin and the delicate weave of the cloth. The dark background makes the lighter figure stand out. This play between light and dark gives the image a timeless quality. Look at the way the light falls across her back, highlighting the subtle curve of her spine. It's as if Luster is inviting us to contemplate the beauty of the human form. Luster's work, like that of Emmet Gowin, often explores themes of family, memory, and the passage of time, inviting viewers to engage with art as a form of personal and collective reflection. It’s about so much more than just what’s in the frame.