Dorothea Lange

Dorothea Lange was born on May 26, 1895, in Hoboken, New Jersey. She is widely recognized as one of the most influential documentary photographers and photojournalists of the twentieth century. Lange's work humanized the consequences of the Great Depression and influenced the development of documentary photography. Her early life in a city landscape and later studies in New York City profoundly shaped her photographic style.

In 1933, amid the economic turmoil of the Great Depression, Dorothea Lange joined San Francisco's first nonprofit photo studio, which was designed to provide work for photographers. This decision marked a turning point in Lange's career as she shifted her focus from studio portraiture to documentary photography, capturing the struggles and resilience of the American people during this period.

In 1935, Dorothea Lange was hired by the Resettlement Administration (which later became the Farm Security Administration) to document rural poverty and the effects of the Great Depression. Her photographs during this time, particularly of migrant workers and poor farmers, are some of her most celebrated works. Lange's images drew attention to the plight of the poor, influencing public perception and policy.

In February 1936, Dorothea Lange captured the iconic 'Migrant Mother' photograph in Nipomo, California. The image depicts a destitute pea picker, Florence Owens Thompson, and her children. It became one of the most famous images of the Great Depression, symbolizing the desperation and resilience of the American people. The photograph was widely published and brought national attention to the plight of migrant workers.

In 1941, Dorothea Lange was hired by the U.S. government to document the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Her photographs highlighted the injustices faced by Japanese American citizens who were forcefully relocated and imprisoned. Despite being censored and not widely seen until decades later, Lange's internment photographs remain a significant historical record of this dark chapter in American history.

Dorothea Lange, along with other prominent photographers such as Ansel Adams and Minor White, founded Aperture magazine in 1952. Aperture was created as a journal to promote the appreciation of photography as an art form and to foster discussion about the medium's role and potential. It has since become one of the leading magazines on contemporary photography, supporting groundbreaking work and ideas.

In 1960, Dorothea Lange began a project on the phenomenon of mental illness in America, collaborating with her longtime friend and sociologist Robert Coles. Her aim was to bring the invisibility of mental health issues to the forefront, capturing intimate moments with compassion and integrity. The project was among Lange's last, intending to spark conversation and empathy around the stigmatized topic.

Dorothea Lange passed away on October 11, 1965, in San Francisco, California, at the age of 70. Her legacy as a pioneering documentary photographer who captured the hopes, struggles, and dignity of the American people during some of the nation's most challenging times remains enduring. Lange's work continues to inspire later generations of photographers and artists worldwide.

In 1972, the Museum of Modern Art in New York City held a retrospective exhibition of Dorothea Lange's work. This major exhibition highlighted her contributions to the field of documentary photography and her role in American visual culture. It served to cement her legacy as a pivotal figure in photography, showcasing the depth and emotional impact of her life's work.

In 2008, Dorothea Lange's 'Migrant Mother' was added to the U.S. National Archives as part of the collection that chronicles the socioeconomic upheaval of the Great Depression. The inclusion of this powerful image underscores its enduring significance as a piece of national heritage and a testimony to the historic struggles faced by many Americans during that era.