Grandma Ruby 2007

LaToya Ruby Frazier made this photograph, Grandma Ruby, and well, what was it like for her to make this image? I am thinking about the encounter, the exchange of gazes between artist and subject. Grandma Ruby stares directly at the camera, and the unflinching gaze seems to invite our gaze. There's a deep sense of dignity and presence. The lighting is soft, diffused, which gives her skin a gentle glow and the black and white makes it feel timeless, as if it could be from any era. You can almost feel the texture of the crocheted blanket behind her. It's domestic, intimate, and full of personal history. You get the sense that Frazier really knew her grandma, deeply, and wanted to share her with us. It’s almost like we’re invited into their living room, into a family story. I love the idea of artists having these deep, personal connections with their subjects. It's a way of honoring their lives.