The artwork titled “The Road West, New Mexico, June 1938” by Dorothea Lange was created in 1965 and falls within the Social Realism movement. This work, classified under the genre of photography, portrays the stark and poignant realities intrinsic to the period it captures.
The artwork presents a solitary road extending infinitely towards the horizon, receding into a distant vanishing point. The road is bordered on either side by expansive, darkened fields under a vast, undulating sky. The meticulous composition and stark contrast between the road and its surroundings evoke a profound sense of isolation and perseverance. The emptiness both ahead and behind on the road amplifies the desolation and determination symbolized by the journey westward. Through this piece, Lange adeptly captures not only a physical journey but also an emotional and societal commentary on the era’s aspirations and adversities.
