The artwork titled “Oklahoma Dust Bowl Refugees, San Fernando, California” was created by the artist Dorothea Lange in the year 1935. Belonging to the Social Realism art movement, this photograph captures a poignant moment during the Great Depression, reflecting the genre’s dedication to portraying social issues and the human condition with stark realism.
In this evocative photograph, a family of refugees from the Oklahoma Dust Bowl is depicted, situated in a car loaded with personal belongings, suggesting their transient and precarious living conditions. The car is worn and heavily burdened with various items, including a conspicuously placed box labeled “Scotch Soap,” highlighting the everyday struggles and resilience of the subjects. A man stands beside the car wearing a hat, while a child inside the vehicle peers out, adding a sense of human intimacy and immediacy to the scene. The backdrop features telephone poles and a car in the distance, situating the scene in a specific moment of 1930s America. The photograph, through its candid and unembellished composition, powerfully conveys the hardships endured by these refugees, making a profound statement on the impact of the Dust Bowl and the broader economic crisis on ordinary lives.
