A Critique of Dorothea Lange's Photograph "Migrant Agricultural Worker's Family. Seven Children Without Food. Mother Aged 32, Father is a Native Californian"
Dorothea Lange was an American documentary photographer, social documentary photographer, and photojournalist Born in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1895, she produced some of the most iconic and powerful images of human suffering and resilience throughout the Great Depression. In her work, Lange sought to document and advocate for the powerless and downtrodden, giving a voice to those who would not be heard.
Lange’s photographs were particularly iconic during the Great Depression, as she was able to capture the essence of the American experience of enduring hardship and emerging from it a stronger person. Her most famous photograph, "Migrant Mother" (1936) captured the spirit of this difficult period, depicting an impoverished woman and her children in a desperate attempt to survive during the Dust Bowl. The picture shocked the world and brought attention to the plight of migrant farmers. Her photographs of rural life across the United States were equally powerful, highlighting the harsh conditions of the agricultural classes and the impact of the Depression on their lives.
Other famous photographs by Lange include her portrait of the farmworker Florence Owens Thompson in "Migrant Mother"; “White Angel Breadline” (1933), which depicted the poverty and desperation of the unemployed in San Francisco; “Out in California” (1935), which captured the hard work of migrants in California; “Hooverville” (1937), which portrayed the desperation of the homeless in San Francisco; and “The Migrant Mother” (1937), which documented the hardworking nature of the migrant mother who provided for her family under harsh conditions.
Lange's photography continues to influence documentary photographers and photojournalists, who are inspired by her commitment to truth and justice. Her iconic images of the American experience, especially during the Great Depression, continue to remind us of the power of photography to bring change and make a difference in the world.
Five best examples of Dorothea Lange’s photography:
1. “Migrant Mother” (1936): This iconic portrait of Florence Owens Thompson, a migrant worker struggling to provide for her family during the Dust Bowl, serves as an enduring reminder of the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming hardship.
2. “White Angel Breadline” (1933): This striking portrait of unemployed men lining up for free bread in San Francisco during the Great Depression is a powerful reflection of desperation and resilience.
3. “Out in California” (1935): This photograph highlights the hardworking and often overlooked worker class in California, depicting the backbreaking labor of migrant workers.
4. “Hooverville” (1937): This image of a makeshift tent city in San Francisco, housing the homeless during the Great Depression, serves as a reminder of the harsh conditions faced by many Americans.
5. “The Migrant Mother” (1937): This portrait of an anonymous mother struggling to provide for her family during the Great Depression is a touching tribute to the often overlooked worker class in America.