Photos can help people keep the important moments in their lives. Especially in history, photos help researchers understand more about our history. At a camp for seasonal agricultural workers of Los Angeles, Dorothea Lange took Migrant Mother in 1936. Florence Owens, the woman in the image, never gave permission to Lange to use her image or the image of her kids (100 photographs). Dorothea Lange also promised with Owens that those pictures would never be published. However, the very next morning, Lange’s picture was published on the front page of all the newspapers along with an article about the hunger of these American people who were working these fields for little no pay, and this photo has become a photographic icon of the Great Depression in America. Migrant Mother is significant to society because it reminds us of economic crisis in 1936, the difficulties of American people at that time, and the love of a mother for her children.
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First, when I look at the photo, the focal point of this photograph will be the woman’s face. The structures of her face such as eyes, nose, mouth, eyebrows, chin, and eyelashes show that she is worried, worn out and just plain exhausted. Besides that, the imperfections of her hair, hair line, cheeks, arms, fingers tell us that she is dirty and poor. She wears a shirt covered with a jacket that is on the left arm. In the background of photo, we observe the children hiding their faces behind their mother. The child on the left has a dirty jacket and it doesn’t fit, while the child on the right has a snug shirt. The third child in the mother’s arms is worn down and hungry while covered with a dirty blanket. Beside, this photo is black and white colors. Even though this image contains no color, light and angle are more important. The children in the image are darker than the woman, so it makes her face is brighter and more emotional.
In the image, the woman’s face is the only visible to viewers, so it makes her facial is more interesting. Through her face, we can understand more about her life. She looks tired and worry for her and her children’s future. She cannot find a job after her husband died due to illness (Migrant Mother). She moves place to place to find a job that helps her can take care of her children. This woman needs food, water, clothing, and even a bath. On the other hand, the way the children lean to her shoulder make us feel like their mother is a source of hope and peace. Those children feel peacefully after their mother’s protection. The children rely on their mother, while the mother relies upon herself just the same. The photographer took the photo at the perfect angle, so the woman appears clearly and emotional. The absence of color is what makes the photo so intense.
Looking at the photography, it reminds us the Great Depression from 1929 to early 1940s. At that time, the economy in America, Europe and other industry of the world collapsed. It was the longest and most severe depression ever experienced.
By 1933, 11000 of the United States’ 25000 banks had failed. By 1932, United States manufacturing output had fallen to 54 percent of its 1929 level, and unemployment had risen to between 12 and 15 million workers, or 25-30 percent of the work force. (Modern American Poetry).
The Great Depression leads to the difficulties and the worries of American people. Men lost their jobs, and woman began to realize that they had to work to maintain their suitable living conditions. Everyone had to find the way that they could survive in that period. Workers got 35 cents for three weeks work in the fields (Uys). It is a terrible way to live, and it was rough and terrible at that time. However, the love of mother will never change even in the hardest time. Owens, the women in the photo, has seven children and her husband past away. Her sisters and brothers wanted to raise her children, but she didn’t want to. She said she wanted to see her children grow up by her own eyes. She can do everything for her children. She didn’t eat sometimes, but she made sure her children ate. She never had a lot, but she always made sure her children had something (Migrant Mother).
Migrant Mother is one of the most touched images in the Great Depression. This photography helps people remember how hard American people had to face during the Great Depression, and the mother’s love always present in every time and at everywhere. Absence of color, focal point and background make the photo becomes amazing. The photograph is perfect the way it is. No matter what someone may see as the most important aspect of “Migrant Mother”, it is undeniable that it is truly an incredible icon from the era of the Depression, and still is an icon to this day.
Work Cited
Uys, Errol. “What Life Was Like During the Great Depression.” What Life Was Like During the Great Depression. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. “100 Photographs That Changed the World by Life – The Digital Journalist.” 100 Photographs
That Changed the World by Life – The Digital Journalist. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012.
“About the Great Depression.” About the Great Depression. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Oct. 2012.
“Migrant Mother.” Migrant Mother. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. “Migrant Mother.” Migrant Mother. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Oct. 2012.
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