Running head: THE PICTURE IN DEATIL OF MIGRANT MOTHER

The Picture in Detail of Migrant Mother

April Ann Pinones
University of Texas at El Paso

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Mother Migrant was a captured picture done by Dorothea Lange to change peoples
perspective. It will be analyzed on how Lange would try to view a nation that was different than
what people normally saw and call attention from the nation. The photograph is meant for all
viewers to raise awareness of the countries poverty. Through the use of ethos, pathos, and logos
it can be determined to better understand the meaning of what the photographer wanted to show
her audience and wanting a reaction of change within poverty in society.
The picture is truly simple yet has a detailed image within, if the picture is looked at
closely. The photograph shows a mother with her children sitting down, with two of her children
having their head faced inward on their mothers neck. There is a baby hidden in the corner
covered with a blanket. The mother looks distressed with her wrinkled brow, not looking
towards the camera. There are not any words on the picture because the photo has a deep
connection within the audience that does not need any words to describe it. The photograph is
captured in a black and white and the setting is outside in the sun. There is clutter on the outer
rims of the picture having evidence there is some kind of shelter for the family.
Ethos
The picture Mother Migrant is reliant and trustworthy within the publication of the
photo. Ethos is how credible this picture is according to the information detailed in the photo.
Dorothea Lange took the picture of Mother Migrant which was published under National
Geographic. National Geographic is a credible source and a well-known source to state the truth.
Dorothea Lange has worked for National Geographic for a long period of time, but this specific
picture was taken in 1936.
Not only did National Geographic publish the photos of Langes work but also many
magazines such as Survey Graphic. Survey Graphic was a magazine in the United Sates that was

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popular and focused on political and sociologic research of the nations issues. The
photographer Dorothea Lange is famous photographing farm workers and families in poverty.
Lange wanted to show America much more than what meets the eye in lower class citizens.
Pathos
Mother Migrant uses a strong way to communicate with the viewers by using pathos.
Pathos is what sets the tone in the picture and emotional feeling drawn into the picture. When
Mother Migrant is first looked at, there is an emotion of depression and concern from the
woman in the picture. She is not directly looking at the camera but there is still a strong
connection between her and the audience. There is a longing stare of stress into her eyes as she
looks into the distance.
The black and white or gray scale of the picture could be the setting of a depressing tone
into the picture. There are two boys next to the woman who have their head down onto their
assumed mothers side of the back. There is not any detail that shows happiness within these
boys but they look embarrassed. The two boys in Mother Migrant look as if they are in fear
and do not want to show their face as they go next to their mother for protection.
In the very corner of the picture it is barely noticeable but there is a baby in a blanket the
woman is holding. Babies usually mean sunshine rebirth and happiness but this baby looks
miserable looking at his mother compelled there is no hope within that picture. There is a
curiosity to what this woman is feeling or thinking as she is sitting with her sons.
Logos
Another contribution to expressing the technique in the picture drawing attention is logos.
Logos deals with what the photographer wanted to express to the audience and for some action to
take place in the viewing of Mother Migrant. Another purpose for logos is analyzing the

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image to see if the layout or situation is making movement the way the photographer what have
wanted.
Looking closely at Mother Migrant and all the details the photographer wanted to get
in, I came up with the conclusion that Dorothea Lange wanted to expose poverty living in the
United States of America. There are details within the picture that describe the family living in
poverty. Such as the families hair looks as if they have not bathed. Having the color on gray
scale for the picture exposes the dirt on the little boys neck and the hair looking as if they have
not showered and usually people not bathing is due to the fact of poverty. The woman sitting as
the main focus in the camera lens, has her sleeve rigid and torn with a baby in a blanket on her
lap as if the family were living outside with what it seems to be next to them is their belongings.
The picture shows a partial side of the babys face and it is noticeable the babys face is dirty.
Poverty is not the most noticeable problem in the United States. Dorothea Lange wanted
to capture poverty in a documentary on how it was in California. This topic best describes the
three components of ethos, pathos, and logos by displaying the picture as a credible resource,
emotion, and trying to get the audience to react by the use of facts.
The photograph could be analyzed to bring awareness of the poverty in the United States
of America and more specific California because the photograph was shot in California. The
viewers could be anyone who was reading magazines but more specifically the Survey Graphic
and National Geographic where most people who read it are people that is more interested in
being educated about the social and political status of the nation. Migrant Mother shows
a different kind of story rather than the usual head strong rich America the
world sees, it shows a nation that has poverty within the country and a
photograph calling attention towards the nation itself.

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Reference
Thompson, F. O. (1936). Migrant mother [Photograph].