Updated March 6, 2024 at 12:45 p.m.
The iconic photograph, now referred to as “Migrant Mother” was taken by American photographer and photojournalist Dorothea Lange during the Great Depression in 1936.
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Who is the subject of the “Migrant Mother” photograph?
The subject of the photograph is Florence Owens Thompson, a migrant agricultural worker and mother of seven children. The photo was taken at a migrant labor camp in Nipomo, California.
What is the significance of the "Migrant Mother" photograph?
The photograph has become the single most iconic image of the Great Depression and the struggles of the working class during that time period. It has been widely reproduced and is considered one of the most powerful images in the history of documentary photography.
Why did Lange take the “Migrant Mother” photograph?
Lange was working for the Resettlement Administration, a government agency tasked with helping farmers affected by the Dust Bowl and Great Depression. She took the photograph as part of a larger series documenting the living conditions of migrant workers and the effects of the Great Depression on their lives. Her goal was to bring attention to the plight of these workers and to advocate for government assistance for them.