Question

How did Lange find the woman who was the subject of Migrant Mother? Support your answer with specific textual evidence.

a) She randomly encountered her during her travels.
b) Lange placed an ad in the newspaper seeking subjects.
c) Lange was directed to her by a local police officer.
d) Lange was introduced to her by a fellow photographer.

Answer 1

Dorothea Lange found the subject of Migrant Mother, Florence Thompson, by chance while on assignment in Nipomo, California, capturing a series of shots that showcased the hardship of the Great Depression.

Step-by-step explanation:

Dorothea Lange found the woman who was the subject of Migrant Mother not through an advertisement, nor was she directed to her by a local police officer or introduced by a fellow photographer. Instead, Lange stumbled upon Florence Thompson and her children by chance. While on assignment for the Resettlement Administration of the Farm Security Administration Office, Lange was in Nipomo, California, when she noticed the Cherokee woman, Florence Thompson, with several children in a tent. Captivated by the scene indicative of the times, Lange took a series of photographs, culminating in the iconic Migrant Mother that would come to symbolize the resilience and suffering of people during the Great Depression.