Richmond, California 1952

Dorothea Lange made this photograph, sometime in the mid twentieth century, probably with a large format camera. There is a lovely and very human quality to the black and white tones. It feels both immediate and somehow quite distant at the same time. Look how Lange has captured the man stepping off the curb. You can almost feel the weight and momentum in that single gesture. The contrast between the man's worn overalls and the crisp lines of the curb creates a striking visual tension. I also love how she includes the Central Drug Store sign in the background. Its a mundane detail, but it gives the image a very specific sense of place. Lange was obviously influenced by the earlier documentary photography of Walker Evans, but I think she has a warmth and a depth of feeling that's all her own. Her photography reminds us that art is not just about aesthetics, but also about empathy and human connection.