Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California 1936

Curator: The weight of worry is palpable in Dorothea Lange’s "Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California," a photograph now held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It certainly is, that stark monochrome and tight framing create an inescapable sense of hardship and resilience. Curator: Lange took this photo in the 1930s, during the Great Depression; it became an iconic image representing the struggles of migrant farmworkers. Editor: It is hard not to think about representation and exploitation. The image so strongly evokes the intersections of poverty, motherhood, and the desperation of the era. How does this image function within our contemporary understanding of social justice and representation? Curator: Lange worked for the Farm Security Administration, and the image was intended to generate public support for New Deal programs. Editor: It’s a powerful piece of propaganda, isn't it? Highlighting the role of documentary photography in shaping public opinion and social reform. Curator: It’s a difficult image, even now. I hope visitors today continue to challenge the systems and inequities it represents. Editor: It’s certainly a potent reminder of our history and our responsibility to address ongoing issues of poverty and inequality.