Mother and Child on the Road in Tulelake, Siskiyou County, California, September 1939 1939

Editor: Dorothea Lange's 1939 photograph, "Mother and Child on the Road in Tulelake," is really striking. The subjects' expressions are so intense. What historical context do you bring to this piece? Curator: Lange's work during the Depression is crucial. This image captures the Dust Bowl migration, reflecting systemic failures and the human cost of economic collapse. What does it say about gender roles, seeing this mother's resilience and burden? Editor: It’s heartbreaking, really. She looks exhausted, but resolute. Curator: Exactly. It's not just a portrait; it's a document of social injustice and the fight for survival. Consider how race and class intersect here; who had access to resources, and who was left behind? Editor: This makes me consider photography’s power, and its responsibility. Thank you! Curator: And thank you. It's in these dialogues we find new ways to understand both the art and ourselves.