Charles Randall, Angola, Louisiana 18 - 1999

Deborah Luster made this portrait of Charles Randall at Angola, Louisiana, using an antique photographic process. What really grabs me is the image’s surface. It's got this tintype look, like something from the 19th century. You can see the marks, the scratches, the imperfections – all that history baked right into the image. The color palette, it’s limited, almost monochromatic, which lends it a kind of timeless quality. There's a real depth, too, especially in the dark background. It’s like looking into the past, but with this super present feeling. Look at the way Randall is posed, so dignified, and then you see that little smile playing on his lips. It’s like he's sharing a secret with you, or maybe just enjoying a private joke. It reminds me a little of some of Lucian Freud’s portraits, that sense of intimacy, of getting up close and personal with the subject. You know, art’s always in conversation, always borrowing, always riffing.