Smithsonian magazine's 22nd Annual Photo Contest | Made possible through the support of MPB.com

21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest People
Portrait of a Lady

Havana, Cuba, February.18, 2022. Juana Milton, 80 years old, plays with her nephew's boxing gloves on the staircase of her building. She lives alone in a tiny apartment. Since the economic reforms in 2021, finding food without having foreign currency has become an ordeal. She barely manages to feed herself and is increasingly angry. I keep visiting her every time I come to Cuba. Once, I gave her a perfume bottle, which she kept like a treasury. "Smelling it is medicine for me", she says. Juana embodies the poise, strength and resilience of the Cuban people.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 02.2022
Date Uploaded: 09.2023
Photo Location: Havana, Cuba
Camera: LEICA Q2
Copyright: © Marylise Vigneau