“Migrant Mother” Dorothea Lange, 1936

Thanks to the legendary photographer Dorothea Lange, over many years Florence Owen Thompson has been literally an embodiment of the Great Depression. Lange made this shot while visiting the camp of vegetable pickers in California (February, 1936) with the aim to show the whole world the fortitude and inflexibility of the proud nation in hard times.

The history of Dorothea’s life turned out to be as magnetic as her portrait. In her 32 she has been a mother of seven children and a widow already (her husband died from tuberculosis). Being practically without means in a work camp for emigres, her family ate the meat of birds, winging by children and farm vegetables – the same was about other 2500 camp workers.

The publishing of the photo came as a bombshell. The Thomson’s story, appeared on the covers of the most authoritative editions, found an immediate response around the public. The Farm Security Administration immediately sent food and essentials to the camp. Unfortunately, the Thomson’s family had already left the lived-in place and received nothing from the government. It should be mentioned that nobody knew even the name of that woman on the shot. Only 40 years later after the shot’s publishing, in 1976 Thomson “disclosed” herself, giving the interview to one of the central newspaper.