Nuestra Señora de Las Iguanas (Our Lady of the Iguanas) Possibly 1979 - 1990

Graciela Iturbide's "Nuestra Señora de Las Iguanas" is a photograph, and it’s like a painting in its tonal range. The image is this incredible study in black and white, where the textures and forms jump out because of the limited palette. The smooth skin of the woman is such a contrast to the rough, scaly skin of the iguanas perched on her head. Each animal has a distinct personality, like characters in a play, and the lighting reveals so much about them. What strikes me is the woman's gaze. She looks slightly upward with such a serene expression, bearing the weight, and the weirdness, with grace. It's not just a portrait; it's a statement. Iturbide reminds me of other photographers like Diane Arbus, in that she finds the extraordinary in the everyday. Both invite us to reconsider what we find beautiful, and what we find strange.