Migrant Mother Photo Analysis Essay

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Topic: Interpretation Essay - Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange
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Date: 20th June, 2014
The "Migrant Mother" by Dorothea Lange
Thesis Statement
The photograph of the "Migrant Mother" was taken by Dorothea Lange in March 1936 during her trip to Nimpo during the Great Depression. This is a picture of a 32 year old lady known as Florence Owen Thompson and her three children. The Great Depression of the 1930’s did not affect only the banks, but also families and their well being. Florence was not aware of the purpose of the photograph and that her emotions would be revealed from the photograph as she was only taking a photo with her family. This paper, therefore, looks at the "Migrant Mother" photograph and analyzes is different unique features and elements in order to point out and interpret what the picture is about.
The migrant mother’s photograph presents an observer with an overview of the state of immigrants and in this case the women immigrants. The woman is sitting down with a saddened face with her three children while she is photographed. The mother’s hair in the picture is extremely dark; however, her skin is significantly light compared to her children and other features in the photograph. This contrast created on the photograph highlights the face of the mother that is seemingly the focus of the picture. The mother is wearing two tops with the inner one only visible on her chest is a button shirt with a collar. The outer one is a sweater made of rough material and is cut to the elbows.
She is sitting down with her three children with a pensive and saddened look; her right arm is up with the fingertips on her chin. She is with her three children with her youngest on her lap and the other two children nestled together on her should and on her back facing away from the camera and using their mum as a shield from the camera. The infant seems to be wrapped in an oversized clothing probably the mother’s and they all have tattered clothes where the children’s clothing have holes in the sleeves while the mothers coat is frayed as the end of the sleeves, and the clothes seem to be covered with dirt.
The contrast created is prominent on the mother and highlights her face that holds the majority of the photo’s feeling and captures the emotions of any viewer. She is not facing the camera directly, and this makes different statements either she is ashamed of looking as she recognizes her state and feels belittled. Her wrinkled brow, her somewhat grimaced face, and the somber expression in her face express the hardship she is experiencing and reveals the struggles that she has undergone as an immigrant.
Though the mother is aware that she is being photographed, she does not look at the camera. The pensive and empty gaze indicates that she is deep thought. This highlights her lack of curiosit...