American Masters: Dorothea Lange: Grab a Hunk of

… of a woman who took so many moving portraits, including the iconic “Migrant Mother.”Ever since the ‘60’s, when I purchased a copy of my now well-thumbed paperback version of “The Family of Man,” which contained the photographs from an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City shortly after the Second World War, I have been enthralled by the quality of the work of Dorothea Lange. She was once part of a very small band of photographers who were employed by the Farm Security Administration (FSA) during the Great Depression. These photographers would provide America with all-too-many haunting images of the devastating impact the Depression had on the lives of Americans. Another moving image of Lange’s that was in this exhibition is of a man with his hands around a tin cup of what one supposes is coffee, with his back to the crowd of other destitute men, with a look that borders on despair.But what of the rest of Lange’s life? Thanks to her granddaughter, Dyanna Taylor, who directed this excellent movie, which was released in 2014, I now have a much better idea. Dorothea Lange was born in 1895. She contracted polio as a child, was more fortunate than many, but would walk with a limp the rest of her life. Her mother warned her that she was “damaged goods,” which would impact her marital prospects. That warning proved not to be true. But the limp may have been a source of her empathy for the suffering of others.Lange moved to San Francisco, found a backer, and was able to open a portrait studio, mainly taking photographs of the elite in that town. She would marry Maynard Dixon, an artist 20 years her senior. They were married in Albuquerque, New Mexico, of all places. He had one child already, and they would have two more together. There is the inference throughout the movie that they were not particularly good parents. At times, the “demands of their art” meant placing their children in foster homes. Alas, a common theme: “saving the world,” but overlooking one’s family.It was the 1934 Longshoreman’s strike in San Francisco that more fully brought out her social consciousness. And from there she would join forces with Paul Taylor in seeking to document and ameliorate the conditions of migrant labor in California. The two would develop a romantic relationship, divorce their current spouses, and marry, “shuffling” the various progeny along the way, a number of whom were interviewed as mature adults for this film.Concerning the “Migrant Mother,” whose name is Florence Owens Thompson, I was stunned to learn that she is Cherokee, and yes, an Okie, whose ancestors had made another (forced) migration. Neither she nor Lange would make a penny off that photograph that was honored as a US Postage stamp. Through a later marriage Thompson was able to obtain some degree of financial security. Overall, she had 10 children.Lange and Taylor combined to publish a book on the migrant workers of the Depression era entitled “An American Exodus: A Record of Human Erosion.” It was released just as World War II commenced and did not sell well. (A copy now sells for approximately $180 at Amazon). She would also photograph conditions in the internment camps for American citizens of Japanese descent, until the US government fired her because they did not like the images. In the ‘60’s, despite declining health, she took a world tour with her husband and produced some outstanding photographs of human subjects in the developing world.In 1965 MOMA wanted to do a retrospective exhibit of her work, and a good part of this film depicts her work in selecting what should be included or not, and how it should be displayed. She was diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus, was cared for by her husband, Paul Taylor, to the end, and would die in the autumn of 1965, three months before the MOMA exhibition opened.An outstanding film on a woman I have long-admired, and I note that her granddaughter has directed some other films I shall be watching. For this one, 5-stars, plus.

This is an interesting documentary for anyone who is interested in Dorothea Lange. This was made later in her life. During the filming she's working on her last major exhibit. She is looking at some of her old art workWhat this doesn't do is focus on her most famous migrant mother photograph or any of her other well known photographs. It focuses on Dorothea Lange and her art. It focuses on her life and her work. It talks about her work during the depression but it also delves into her life after and some of her activism etc.I enjoyed this very much. It is appealing to anyone who is interested in Dorothea Lange, Photography or the Depression Era.

I saw this documentary about photographer Dorothea Lange on PBS’s American Masters series and decided to buy a copy to view again and share with others. Lange’s b/w photography is framed beautifully in this video about her life and work and legacy. I was a little surprised that the presentation of her photos in this documentary had a more powerful effect on me than my last viewing of them in a book. It’s largely due to the filmmaker’s skill in setting the context of Lange’s life and struggles and placing them alongside the struggles of the many Americans she photographed. I sure wish we had more photographers of Lange’s caliber and social conscience working today. This is a slow-moving documentary that builds in power and ably captures a great artist at work. I recommend it to all viewers although I think lovers of photography, American history and women artists will find it most resonant.

Behind her superb photographic sense and skill lay the heart and mind of a compassionate woman. This film should be shown in every photography class and every class focusing on women of achievement. I had tears in my ears throughout most of this film because it was so moving and so inspirational at the same time. What a treasure to the human race Dorothea Lange was!

It is highly highly unusual for me to watch a documentary, let alone one of an artist, but I am so grateful I clicked on this to watch it. Dorothea Lange was ahead of her time in her ability to combine photography with raising public sentiment and therefore activism. The documentary is uplifting, touching and has instilled in me a reverence for her work.

This film was both inspiring and enlightening asI had no idea ALL the events she'd covered. Or the battles she'd face, aside from the obvious.It was touching to learn more about the personal side of this artist.

This film was so amazingly done. I am so impressed with this woman's life and the life she and her husband(s) created. So ahead of their time and such natural photojournalists. I will forever look at taking photos in a different light.

Ms Lange is a national treasure not only for her magnificent work but her courage to explore and question. This documentary is so very well constructed and most poignant. I truly enjoyed hearing her words and those words which she collected from the people that she immortalized. There is a very strong bond between the visual and the verbal and she knew how to combine the two to give true depth and humanity for which the viewer benefits.

J'aimerais pouvoir commenter, mais je n'ai jamais pu l'écouter, la boite étant tellement mal conçue que le disque c'est cassé quand j'ai tenté de le sortir de la boîte.

Fantastic doco

Such a great Documentary on one of my favorite photographers.