George Georgetown, Transylvania, Louisiana 3 - 2000

Deborah Luster made this photograph, George Georgetown, Transylvania, Louisiana, using the tintype process. The way she works with light and shadow is really striking, giving it a timeless quality. It’s like she's not just capturing a face, but also a feeling, and it makes you wonder about the whole process. The dark background makes George's skin almost glow, and you can see all the little details in his face, like he’s right there in front of you. The whole image is full of texture, from the rough edges of the plate to the soft fabric of his sweatpants. I'm drawn to the way his hands are positioned, there's something both vulnerable and strong about it. Luster’s work reminds me a bit of some of the old masters who used light in such a dramatic way, like Caravaggio, but with a really contemporary twist. It’s like she’s having a conversation with art history, and inviting us to join in.