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 |