Angola, Louisiana 19 - 1999

Deborah Luster made this photograph, Angola, Louisiana, using a photographic technique from the nineteenth century. I can only imagine what it must have been like for Deborah Luster to create such a work. In this image, the surface feels incredibly tactile, as if it were an object that you could touch and feel. The sepia tones give the image a sense of warmth, while the scratches and imperfections on the surface only add to its character. When I look at it, I can’t help but think of the many photographs and paintings that have come before it. Luster is part of an ongoing conversation and exchange of ideas across time, inspiring creativity and exploring the human condition. With the help of sepia tones and a tactile surface, this work embraces ambiguity and uncertainty, allowing for multiple interpretations.