"Money," Transylvania, Louisiana 1999

Deborah Luster made this tintype, "Money," somewhere in Transylvania, Louisiana, using a photographic process from the 1800s. It’s all about light and shadow, isn't it? I love how the image glows from within. Look at the way the sepia tones create this sense of age, as if the photograph is an artifact. I find myself drawn to the surface, to the imperfections and scratches that mark the plate. They remind me of time, and the way it leaves its mark on everything, like in a Cy Twombly painting. What really grabs me is the gesture of the hand, pointing, almost accusingly. It’s a direct address to the viewer. Is it a symbol, an invitation, or a challenge? Luster's work sits in this rich tradition of photography that, like painting, embraces ambiguity and multiple readings. It’s a process of seeing, feeling, and thinking, all at once.