Dorothea Lange

Definition

Dorothea Lange was an influential American photographer known for her poignant images capturing the struggles of displaced families during the Great Depression. Her work emphasized social realism and aimed to raise awareness about the plight of the poor and marginalized, making her a key figure in documentary photography.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Lange's most famous photograph, 'Migrant Mother,' features a desperate mother with her children and became an iconic representation of the hardships faced during the Great Depression.
2. She began her career as a portrait photographer in San Francisco but shifted her focus to documentary work after witnessing the effects of economic hardship on families.
3. Lange's photographs were widely published and used in government publications, helping to humanize the statistics about poverty and homelessness during this era.
4. Her work influenced not only photography but also art and social policy by highlighting issues like poverty, displacement, and resilience.
5. Lange continued to work as a photographer throughout her life, capturing important moments during World War II and advocating for social justice through her art.

Review Questions

• How did Dorothea Lange's photography contribute to public awareness of social issues during the Great Depression?
  • Dorothea Lange's photography played a crucial role in raising public awareness about the social issues faced by impoverished families during the Great Depression. Her striking images, such as 'Migrant Mother,' conveyed deep emotion and humanized the struggles of those affected by economic hardship. By documenting their stories visually, Lange helped to garner sympathy and support for relief efforts, making her work instrumental in shaping public perception of poverty.
• Analyze how Lange's background influenced her approach to documentary photography and her choice of subjects.
  • Lange's background as a portrait photographer provided her with a unique skill set that influenced her approach to documentary photography. Her empathy towards her subjects stemmed from her own experiences witnessing poverty in her community, which led her to focus on capturing authentic emotions and stories. This personal connection informed her choice of subjects, emphasizing vulnerable populations like migrant workers and struggling families, and allowed her to create powerful narratives through her images.
• Evaluate the impact of Dorothea Lange's work on contemporary photography and social justice movements.
  • Dorothea Lange's work has had a lasting impact on contemporary photography and continues to inspire social justice movements today. By blending art with activism, she set a precedent for using visual storytelling as a means to advocate for change. Her emphasis on humanizing social issues has influenced generations of photographers who seek to document marginalized voices, reinforcing the idea that photography can be a powerful tool for raising awareness and promoting social reform.

Related terms

FSA: The Farm Security Administration, a New Deal agency that employed Lange and other photographers to document rural poverty in America during the Great Depression.

Documentary Photography: A style of photography that seeks to chronicle significant and historical events, often with a focus on social issues, through images that tell a story.

Social Realism: An artistic movement that aims to depict everyday life and social issues in a realistic manner, often highlighting the struggles of the working class.