St. Gabriel, Louisiana 30 - 1999

Deborah Luster made this portrait of a woman called St. Gabriel, using the 19th-century technique of the tintype. The sepia tones and soft focus give the image a feeling of both vulnerability and strength. Look at the way her hands are posed, pressed together. The light catches the lines and creases in her palms, drawing attention to the human touch, the history of touch. The light seems to come from everywhere and nowhere, like the light in a dream. Now, focus on the background. See those fine lines and imperfections? These aren't flaws but rather signs of the artist's hand, the evidence of a process that's both scientific and alchemical. Luster's work reminds me a little of Sally Mann, in the way that both artists embrace the unpredictable nature of photography. Ultimately, this embrace of chance and imperfection allows the artists to find beauty in the unexpected.