Migratory field worker picking cotton in San Joaquin Valley, California after 1938

This black and white photograph, taken by Dorothea Lange in 1938, depicts a field worker picking cotton in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Lange’s photo is a powerful image that captures the hardship faced by migrants during the Great Depression. The worker's bent posture and the vast cotton field highlight the tedious nature of their labor. The composition emphasizes the worker's isolation in the vast expanse of the field, conveying the loneliness and hardship experienced by many during this period. This photograph is a classic example of documentary photography, highlighting the social and economic realities of the time.