A young girl in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland  c. 1954 - 1965

This is a photograph by Dorothea Lange titled, 'A young girl in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland.' The girl's gaze really holds me. I can’t help but wonder, what was it like for Lange to be on the other side of the lens, and for the girl to be the subject of this encounter? I imagine Lange, drawn by the girl's face, her unique features, and the way she carries herself. She must have felt an urge to capture her essence. It’s interesting how Lange has framed the photo so that she has these giant ears and big round glasses. I think that Lange is inviting us to see the girl in her full complexity, challenging us to consider the layers of identity and experience that shape our understanding of one another. Lange, like many photographers, explores themes of identity, empathy, and the human condition. It’s like she's showing us that seeing is not just a visual act, but an emotional and intellectual one, too.