Dorothea Collection (#13)
"Dorothea: Capturing the Stories of Struggle and Resilience" In 1936
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"Dorothea: Capturing the Stories of Struggle and Resilience" In 1936, Dorothea Lange embarked on a journey to document the lives of those affected by the Great Depression. One iconic photograph from her Migrant Mother series encapsulates the hardships faced by Florence Thompson, a 32-year-old migrant worker and mother of seven, as she cradles her children in a camp for migrant workers in Nipomo, California. Through Lange's lens, we witness not only the exhaustion etched on Florence's face but also her unwavering determination to provide for her family. Lange's lens didn't just focus on individuals; it captured entire communities grappling with adversity. In 1939, she turned her attention to Lincoln Bench School where young girls diligently studied their reading lesson amidst challenging circumstances. These schoolchildren symbolize hope and resilience despite facing uncertain futures. The photographer's work extended beyond capturing people struggling during economic crises; she also documented social issues plaguing society at large. In August 1939, Lange photographed an unemployed lumberjack with his wife in a migrant workers camp during the bean harvest in Marion County, Oregon. The man's social security number tattooed on his arm serves as a haunting reminder of how deeply poverty can affect one's identity. While "Dorothea" may evoke thoughts of other notable figures like Dorothea Douglass Lambert Chambers or Dorothy Jordan (1762-1816), it is this particular Dorothea Lange who left an indelible mark through her powerful images that shed light on human struggles across time and place. From Texas to Memphis in 1937, Lange captured signs that told stories themselves - like that of a hotel sign standing tall against economic turbulence. Her photographs serve as visual testimonies to remind us all of our shared humanity amidst trying times. Beyond photography alone, "Dorothea" encompasses various facets of history and culture.