Migratory pea pickers, Nipomo, California

March 1936

Dorothea Lange

Associated Names
Dorothea Lange

Artist, American, 1895 - 1965

The image shows a man and a woman seated side by side on the edge of a wooden vehicle. Both individuals are entirely visible from the waist up. The man is seated on the left, slightly turned toward the woman, with his hands resting on his knees. He has short hair mostly covered by a hat and wears round glasses. His outfit consists of a light-colored shirt, a tie, and a light-colored blazer, matched with pants and sturdy-looking shoes. Next to him, the woman sits with her hands folded on her lap, wearing a coat over a patterned dress, and a head covering that conceals her hair, except for a few visible strands. Her facial expression is serious, and her eyes look directly at the viewer. They sit against the side of the vehicle, which has wooden, worn panels, and a calendar affixed to the side. The vehicle appears to be modified for living purposes, evident from the bed and rustic construction. The background shows an open, grassy area with overcast skies, and no distinct landmarks are visible.
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Artwork overview


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(RoseGallery, Santa Monica, CA); Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser, Van Nuys, CA, 22 November 2014; gift to NGA, 2016.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2023

  • Dorothea Lange: Seeing People, National Gallery of Art, Washington; Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, 2023 - 2024, unnumbered catalogue.

Bibliography

2002

  • Keller, Judith. Dorothea Lange: Photographs from the J. Paul Getty Museum. Los Angeles, 2002: 27.

Inscriptions

on verso, by Dorothea Lange, top right in graphite inverted: Transients; by Dorothea Lange, upper center in graphite: Pea workers in Calif. / "Mam, I've picked near from / Calipatria to Ukiah, this / life is simplicity boiled / down.; top right printed in black ink: RA 1804C; by unknown hand, center in graphite: RA 1904C; lower center stamped in black ink: Kindly use the following credit line: / RESETTLEMENT ADMINISTRATION PHOTOGRAPH BY Lange [underlined]; bottom left in graphite: GCP23648; bottom center in graphite: PE77871-222

Wikidata ID

Q64146908

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