In the dim light of Paredes do Rio, the camera captures a beauty shaped by time and labour. The woman’s face, marked by the history of countless linen cycles, reflects a mastery that no book can teach. Her presence commands the space; she sits with quiet authority, her hands moving with the precision of a lifetime’s experience.
The air in the room hangs thick with smoke, swirling in the shadows as it rises from the open fire. Sparks flicker against the dark backdrop, illuminating the raw, unyielding nature of the workspace. There is no comfort here, only the stark reality of tradition. This photograph honours her resilience, capturing a woman who embodies the soul of Trás-os-Montes in her gaze, keeping an ancient heritage alive amidst the heat and haze of the hearth.

* March 16, 2013
* Paredes do Rio, Portugal
* GPS: 41.796567, -7.923783
* From the series: Spirit of Earth — Traditional Practices
* Object number: #4.POR-SET.2013
* Nikon D800, 24-70/2.8 • Iso 800 • 31mm • f/6.3 • 1/100sec
* Photograph. 70×50 cm. Ed. 1/12 + 3 AP
* Print on Hahnemüle Photo Rag Matt Baryta, 308 g/m²