Lusetti Family, Luzzara, Italy 1953

This photograph of the Lusetti Family in Luzzara, Italy, was taken by Paul Strand. What I think is so interesting about this image is how Strand captures the family’s dignity and strength in their everyday environment. You see the textural qualities of the building's facade, the worn surfaces and the family’s bare feet. It reminds me of Walker Evans or Dorothea Lange and the way they would document the American experience in intimate ways. Imagine what it might have been like to stand there with his camera, waiting for the right moment, thinking about light and composition, but also about the story he wanted to tell. The way the figures are arranged, some standing, some seated, creates a rhythm that draws you in. There’s an honesty here that transcends the surface. It's about seeing, feeling, and connecting with the lives of others.