I received this book through NetGalley.

Dorothea Lange wanted to see the West Coast. She’d carefully saved her money and after two years she made the move. The trip to San Francisco was long and difficult. After a grueling cross country trip, she finally arrived. While marveling over the view of the city, she was pickpocketed, losing all her money. How people respond to difficulty is very telling. Dorothea faced her problems and became stronger. She knew that she had to work hard to make a living. She was no stranger to manual labor. She worked hard to earn enough money to survive. A chance meeting on a trolley car provided her with a friend, a home, and a community.

Caroline Lee, a Chinese American, holds her head high while enduring the racial slurs from women on the trolley. A young woman moves her bag so that she can have a seat. Because of the unexpected gesture of friendship, she shows Dorothea the artists’ colony that she lives in called Monkey Block. Here the people embrace art and politics. They believe in freedom. Spending time with her new friend Caroline, Dorothea has her eyes opened to a life far different from her East Coast upbringing. Dorothea also meets Maynard Dixon. She is enchanted by him and falls in love. As a notorious member of society, Maynard exposes Dorothea to even more of San Franciscan society. With all of the new connections she gains, she opens a portrait studio. Caroline helps decorating and running the studio.

Dorothea experiences ups and downs in her life. Her marriage to Maynard falters and Dorothea begins a new aspect of her life. The Great Depression begins, Dorothea closes her portrait studio and begins “documentary photography” taking pictures of life on the streets. The world has changed and she is determined to document the sadness and need.

In The Bohemians, Dorothea Lange arrives in San Francisco, a naïve young woman. As she gains her footing, she loses her innocence, emerging as the insightful photographer capable of capturing America at its best and worst. I recommend this book, it provides insight into a person whose photography is far more well known than her name.

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional Thoughts: I am familiar with many of Dorothea Lange’s photographs but I never knew the story of the photographer until now. This book gave such insight into her difficult beginning and all the adventure she experienced in life.