In her government photography in 1930s and 1940s California, Dorothea Lange exposed the complexities of American identity in a time of economic and civil insecurity. Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, Lange changed her entire focus from portraiture to documentary photography. In so doing, she made some of the most evocative images in American history. Lange’s commitment to a democratic society and to documenting the dignity of people enduring hardship challenged the idea of the California dream. Dorothea Lange's California: 1935–1942 highlights Lange’s government work in California, drawing upon hera extensive archive of images housed at the Library of Congress.

For more information visit cityofirvine.org.