The artwork, entitled “Toward Los Angeles, California,” was created by Dorothea Lange in 1937. This piece belongs to the Social Realism movement and is classified in the genre of photography.
In the artwork, two men are depicted walking along a dirt road heading toward an unspecified destination, suggested to be Los Angeles, California. The men, carrying bags, signify the migration during the Great Depression, a common theme in Lange’s work. To their right, a billboard reading, “Next time try the train. RELAX,” contrasts starkly with their current mode of travel and the hardship it implies. The scene is set against a vast, flat landscape under a partly cloudy sky, capturing both the physical and metaphorical journey of individuals seeking better opportunities amidst challenging circumstances. The photograph powerfully illustrates the struggles and resilience of people during this historical period, characteristic of the social realist movement.
