The artwork titled “Richmond, California,” created by artist Dorothea Lange in 1942, belongs to the Social Realism art movement and is classified within the genre of photography.
The artwork captures a moment from the year 1942 and features a large billboard set against an industrial backdrop. Prominently displayed on the billboard is an advertisement that reads, “It takes 8 tons of freight to k.o. 1 Jap,” followed by “Southern Pacific.” This phrase starkly illustrates the wartime sentiment of the period, using a derogatory term for Japanese individuals, reflecting the prevailing anti-Japanese propaganda of World War II. Below the billboard, partially obscured by overgrown grass, is a sign with the words “FOR SALE” and a contact number “KE. 20275.” The photograph effectively documents the socio-political climate of the time, shedding light on the intersections of commercial interests, wartime economy, and racial attitudes within American society.
