“Funeral Cortege, End of An Era in a Small Valley Town, California” is an evocative piece of art by Dorothea Lange, created in 1938. This photograph belongs to the Social Realism art movement and vividly encapsulates the essence of its genre through its monochromatic palette and poignant subject matter.
The artwork portrays an elderly figure seen through the back window of a vehicle, possibly a hearse. The somber expression of the person, coupled with the reflective surface of the window, captures the depth of emotion in this moment of mourning. The partially obscured face, framed by the oval window, suggests an introspective state, perhaps contemplating the end of an era in the small valley town of California. The image is rich in textures, from the gritty surface of the window to the smooth, dark outline of the vehicle, which adds to the gravity and realism of the scene.
