The Rebellious Curator

Mother and Two Children on the Road, Tulelake, Ca. 1939

Dorothea Lange (American Photographer/Photojournalist 1895-1965)

Best known for her Depression-era photographs for the Farm Security Administration, Dorothea Lange would go on to be a professional photographic artist, and in later years, a successful portrait photographer in San Francisco. 

In 1941, she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, but gave up the award to record evacuations of Japanese Americans in internment camps in Wyoming. The compelling photos were confiscated by the Army and not released for 20 years. 

In the 1950's, she worked for LIfe Magazine and many of her photos appeared on the covers. She was one of eight women photographers in New York City's MOMA exhibit which was presented and organized by another famous photographer, Edward Steichen. In 1964, she was asked to have a one woman show at the MOMA. At the time, she was one of only six photographers ever to have a one person exhibit at the MOMA. 

She died in 1963 after a battle with cancer. After her death, a photographic study of her children was released in a book titled To a Cabin published in 1973.  

Thus ends Art History Geek Weeks for the month of April.