Star in window with Red Cross War Fund sticker, Richmond, California 1944

Editor: So, this is Dorothea Lange's photograph, "Star in window with Red Cross War Fund sticker, Richmond, California," from 1944, a gelatin-silver print. The composition feels so still and contemplative to me. What do you see in this piece, particularly within the context of wartime America? Curator: I see a potent symbol of collective sacrifice and individual experiences during wartime. Lange's work often explores the intersection of personal stories and larger social forces. Here, the star banner signifies a family with a member serving in the military, a very public declaration of their contribution to the war effort. The Red Cross sticker beside it adds another layer: community support. Editor: It feels like a really complex interplay of duty, pride, and perhaps anxiety, all displayed publicly. Curator: Precisely. Lange's documentary approach acknowledges that this image exists within a very specific time and space—1944, Richmond, California, a hub for wartime industries. Who do you think this image might be for? How does it function? Editor: I suppose, at the time, it might have reinforced a sense of shared purpose or guilt for those not directly contributing. Today, it serves as a historical document, prompting reflection on the complexities of patriotism and the human cost of war. It’s about connecting the abstract idea of "war" with the very real, lived experiences of families and communities. Curator: Exactly! And thinking about Lange's larger body of work, we see a career committed to amplifying marginalized voices and documenting the social landscape of her time. This photograph is part of that ongoing project. By presenting these seemingly simple, yet resonant symbols, she allows us to consider war on an individual, family level, complicating any simplistic narratives of heroism. Editor: I hadn’t considered how much context the location adds. Thinking about Richmond as a boomtown due to the war industries makes the image speak even more to economic and social shifts. Thanks; I'll remember to explore images with historical and cultural frameworks in mind. Curator: Absolutely. Examining the work of art from multiple intersectional perspectives allows a more intricate and deeper reading of what may seem initially self-explanatory.