Mrs. Beatty, Toquerville, Utah c. 1953 - 1965

Dorothea Lange made this photograph, Mrs. Beatty, in Toquerville, Utah, sometime in the middle of the 20th century. What grabs me is the quiet intimacy of the frame, the soft greyscale that lets the details emerge without shouting. Look at those hands, clasped together in her lap! They tell a story of work, of time passing – a bit like the way an artist might layer paint, building up textures and tones that reveal the history of the making. The light catches on the simple band on her ring finger, a small detail that speaks volumes about connection and commitment. Lange was so good at capturing the dignity and resilience of everyday people, reminding me a little of Walker Evans. But where Evans could be cool and detached, there’s a warmth in Lange’s approach, a sense of empathy that draws you in close. It's not just about seeing; it’s about feeling.