Destitute mother with children during the Great Depression. Black and white product of the F.S.A.
This image from the Farm Security Administration – Office of War Information Photograph Collection in the Library of Congress, is arguably the most recognizable image published out of this monumental government effort. It depicts a mother and her children during the difficult years of the Great Depression and was originally titled “Migrant Mother.”
This photo was taken by Dorothea Lange. As a photo taken by an acting agent of the U.S. government, it is assumed to be in the public domain.
55 megabyte TIFF. Hosted at the Library of Congress.
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03.17.10
The image says that they are very poor. They don’t even have a good dress to wear. The lean body of the chiklren describes the condition of the financial problems. The lady seems to have a age of more than 30 and the children with the age of 10. They may hiding their faces from the ongoing scene taking place because the mother is also looking very impatiently or the children may be hiding because of the sun. The faces of them are looking very dry which says they have not had bath from many days. They are living in a house made of blankets supported by sticks. The mother kept hand under the chin and might be thinking of the financial condition of them, why they were in such a bad situation, who are responsible for that. They are the agriculture workers and thinking about the crop which has to grow. She may be thinking that the problems of them will be solved if it grows well. The children are leaning on their mother which shows that they do not have the sufficient nutrients in their body. In general the children of that age will not sit idle but their health is not supporting it.
03.27.10
The image is that of a mother who is looking out into the horizon perhaps contemplating on the fate of her family who are clinging to her and hugging her for protection. It is the mother who dares to reminisce and get some strength from the past to clear the path ahead. This image has a brownish hue which adds to the outdoor effect. There are minimal changes from an original picture and even shows the natural wrinkles of the mother. The image worries me as they don’t seem to be in good condition. They look like abandoned or have left an area of turmoil. The mother seems not to mind his physical appearance but instead tries to think of the possibilities. She does not look despaired though and she looks like a fighter ready to make a plan.The children , on the other hand, looked tired and have surrendered their fate to their mother. They trust their mother to make the right decisions and is not worried of the future. On a lighter side, they look like they are all inside an army pick-up and the kids might feel dizzy if they look back the road thus it is only the mother who dares to look back and think.