Lyon, Danny. John Lewis in Nashville. 1963. Gelatin silver print, printed later. Doing Democracy: George Stephanopoulos Collection – LUAG Main Gallery, Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem PA.
This image shot in 1963 shows John Lewis, a man famous for leading during the fight for civil rights who also went on to lead as a representative in Congress later in his life. Captured in black and white, the side-profile portrait shows him in a suit with his arms crossed, leaning against a wall while looking down with a furrowed brow. He stands in front of a glass door, and out of focus people can be seen through it in the background. The close up portrait highlights the intensity and drive of Lewis, captured through his determined facial expression and body language. Symbolically, the glass separation between Lewis and the people in the back can be seen as the laws in place and people in power that allowed for there to be a difference in civil rights and opportunities that African Americans had at the time.