Mona L. Rhodes, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 26 - 1999

Deborah Luster made "Mona L. Rhodes, St. Gabriel, Louisiana" using a photographic technique called tintype. It’s a process from the 1800s that gives the image a sort of ghostly feel, you know? The almost sepia-toned hues remind me of old family photos. It's like a memory, hazy but present. The focus on Mona's face, with those eyes looking straight at you, it's so direct. There's a quiet strength there. What really gets me is the texture. You can almost feel the coolness of the metal plate, the way the image seems to float on the surface. It's not just a photograph; it's an object, a thing with its own weight and presence. It reminds me a little of Dawoud Bey’s portraits; a similar sensitivity and intimacy. It's a powerful way to say that art isn't just about what you see, but how you see it, and how it makes you feel. It’s about conversations across time, echoes of one artist in another.