Robert Earl "June" Lewis, Angola, Louisiana 10 - 1999

Deborah Luster made this photograph, “Robert Earl ‘June’ Lewis, Angola, Louisiana,” using the tintype process. Look at the directness of his gaze, the starkness of the image. I imagine Luster, in collaboration with Robert, carefully staging this scene. She's not just documenting, she’s building an image with him. She uses the tintype process—the blacks are so black they have a kind of infinite depth, like staring into space. The greys feel melancholic and heavy. The word ‘freedom’ looks freshly drawn. I wonder about the choice of words, the handwritten quality. It's so simple, and raw, yet speaks volumes about the complexities of incarceration and the human spirit. I think of other artists who have explored social justice issues, like Jacob Lawrence or even Kara Walker, but Luster’s approach feels particularly intimate. It reminds us of the power of art to bear witness and to create a space for dialogue and reflection.