Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California

Dorothea Lange

Object Label

This selection of works focuses on family, domestic space, and the urban landscape. It brings together photographs from various traditions—including Conceptualism, still life, and social documentary—as well as a piece by a male quilter. Although they represent several generations of artists, often with differing creative practices and intents, these works each tell a story—sometimes obvious, sometimes implicit. Frequently they picture the home, especially the bedroom, encouraging us to contemplate the personal and private moments that make up a life. Shown together, these works ask us to think critically about the role played by the artist, particularly the photographer, in the creation and shaping of a narrative.

Caption

Dorothea Lange (American, 1895–1965). Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California, 1936; printed later. Gelatin silver print, sheet: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm) image: 9 1/8 x 7 5/16 in. (23.2 x 18.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Selma and Leonard Zoref, 1989.128.6.

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Photography

Title

Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California

Date

1936; printed later

Medium

Gelatin silver print

Classification

Photograph

Dimensions

sheet: 14 x 11 in. (35.6 x 27.9 cm) image: 9 1/8 x 7 5/16 in. (23.2 x 18.6 cm)

Inscriptions

stamped on verso : " FSA 9058C BY DOROTHEA LANGE 1936 MIGRANT MOTHER, NIPOMO, CALIFORNIA/ PRINTED BY BERKEY K & L CUSTOM SVCS. INC. 222 E. 44TH ST., NEW YORK, 10017/ UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF ARTHUR ROTHSTEIN"

Credit Line

Gift of Selma and Leonard Zoref

Accession Number

1989.128.6

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