Dorothea Lange1895-1965

A documentary photographer who played a huge role in

America’s art history through the pictures she captured.

Biography of her life…

- Born May 26, 1895 in New Jersey

-At age 7 contracted polio, which made her limp.

-At age 12 her father left the family.

-While living in the city, she saw a world to uncover.

- She got a job at a photographers studio

and the rest is history!

-She died in 1965 as a world famous

photographer.

Dorothea Lange: Documentary Photographer

Japanese -American 1st graders pledging to the flag in 1942. Why would

this picture be significant?

Migrant Mother

This is a picture of a 32 year old mother of seven

children during the 1930’s. From looking at

this picture, what impression do you get of

her and her life?

What this picture REALLY portrayed

In 1960, Lange spoke about her experience taking the photograph:

“I saw and approached the hungry and desperate mother, as if drawn by a magnet. I do not remember how I explained my presence or my camera to her, but I do remember she asked me no questions. I made five exposures, working closer and closer from the same direction. I did not ask her name or her history. She told me her age, that she was thirty-two. She said that they had been living on frozen vegetables from the surrounding fields, and birds that the children killed. She had just sold the tires from her car to buy food. There she sat in that lean-to tent with her children huddled around her, and seemed to know that my pictures might help her, and so she helped me. There was a sort of equality about it.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Lange

White Angel Bread Line

                                            

This photo was taken in the 1930’s during the

Great Depression. After standing in line for hours to receive food, this man seems to have given up

hope by turning his back to the massive crowd.

Is a picture really worth a thousand words?

According to photographer, Dorothea Lange, the answer is without a doubt, “YES”.

Your assignment is just that. Find a picture that portrays some kind of social issue in the world today. Take a stand as to how you feel about that particular issue . Display the picture, in your sketch pad, and your thoughts for our next art class.