DOROTHEA LANGE: Life Work

The powerful photographs of Dorothea Lange (American, 1895-1965) have become icons of American cultural history, documenting the human toll of the Great Depression and the striking landscapes of the 1930s Dust Bowl era. Her images of suffering farm families reflect the strength and spirit of individuals facing hard times.

Lange began her photography career in San Francisco, operating a successful portrait studio from 1919 until the mid-1930s. In 1933, she first documented the breadlines and the hardship visible in the streets. The circulation of Lange’s street photographs led to her employment with the Resettlement Administration and then the Farm Security Administration (FSA), documenting the struggles of farm workers in rural America. Lange’s compelling work raised public awareness of the dire need for federal assistance, garnering support for congressional funding of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal programs.

Through 50 remarkable photographs, this exhibition traces Dorothea Lange’s dynamic life and career, focusing on her renowned images of the Great Depression. Dorothea Lange: Life Work also includes images of her family life, her artistic collaborations with photographers such as Ansel Adams, and her focus on various projects and travel in the 1940s, ’50s, and early ’60s. Lange’s sensitive and empathetic approach to portraiture exemplifies her extraordinary multi-decade career.