Sisters, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 27 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this arresting photo, Sisters, St. Gabriel, Louisiana, with the collodion process—some kind of wet, alchemical, metal plate magic. These sisters stare out at us, faces pale, eyes masked in heavy black. What were they thinking when they daubed on that face paint? I get the feeling they are having a laugh. The surface has this mellow tonality and a luscious depth I just want to dive into. I love how the image is slightly distressed and mottled around the edges—it looks like something ancient, excavated from a forgotten time capsule. And the poses! Serious, defiant even. It’s interesting to see how Luster plays with this historical process to create something that feels both timeless and contemporary. They're like punk rockers from the 1800s.