Hobby Horse, Angola, Louisiana 16 - 1999

"Hobby Horse, Angola, Louisiana" is a black and white photograph by Deborah Luster, taken between 1996 and 1999. The image captures a close-up of a rocking horse, seemingly in mid-motion, with only the hands of an unseen person holding the rocking mechanism in view. The use of the rocking horse as a symbol in the photograph reflects the artist's interest in exploring the lives and experiences of people in Angola prison, where she spent years documenting their stories. The photograph exemplifies Luster's distinctive style of intimate documentary photography, focusing on everyday objects and moments that reveal the complex emotions and realities of her subjects.