Blog @ the Nelson-Atkins

The photography galleries are displaying a new rotation of works from the Hallmark Photographic Collection. The range of this collection is truly astounding. I was excited to see a few works that I recognize from revered American photographers.

The first one that caught my eye is Migrant Mother, Nipomo, California by Dorothea Lange. Lange was employed by the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression and became deeply influential on American documentary photography.

Lange’s photograph is very moving. You can feel the concern emanating from her face and the desperation of the children she holds. It’s very powerful and should definitely be seen in person.

Gordon Parks’ work, Man Emerging, is also really interesting. It’s always great to see a local talent represented in a gallery (he was born in Fort Scott, KS). The photograph was taken in 1952, so I think the title of the work serves as an interesting metaphor for his contemporary society.

This new rotation is chock full of great photographers: Imogen Cunningham, Diane Arbus, Alfred Stieglitz and many more. This time around the photographs are a fantastic mixture of humor, humanity and nature. This rotation is not to be missed!