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Title
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Los Migrantes
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Description
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Drawn from a photograph by Russell Werner Lee (1903-1986), this is a portrait of two migrants, one a child, in a tent city of braceros. Pencil on mat board. Dimensions: 40" x 60"
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Annotation
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This drawing depicts a portrait of two migrants, child and a man, in a bracero tent city. This image, drawn in pencil on a mat board, is taken from a photograph by Russell Werner Lee (1909-1986). The visual vantage point of the image is low, focusing on their faces, expressions, the circumstances they are in, and how they live every day. This is a high-contrast work with every aspect in focus. The expression lines on their faces communicate a range of emotions, such as tiredness, trying to rest, sadness, and hopelessness. This drawing represents the borderlands and how braceros (farmworkers) from Mexico labor in agriculture and the railroad industry in the United States.
Historically, migrants went from one place to another to search for better opportunities and living conditions. Additionally, they migrated for safety reasons because of conflicts or disasters in their own country. From 1942 to 1964, the United States and Mexico formed a bilateral agreement, known as the Bracero Program to address the labor shortage during World War II. It allowed Mexicans to work legally in the United States, by providing contracts to millions of Mexican workers, even after the end of the war. However, the program was controversial because workers faced exploitation and discrimination. (Author: Brisa De La Fuente)
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Identifier
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SB_Los_Migrantes_1973.tif
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Access Rights
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© 1972, Santa C. Barraza. This image may not be reproduced for commercial purposes without the written consent of the artist. The image may be used for educational personal individual uses and with credit to the artist. Please contact the artist for commercial purposes, reproduction and/or publication: santa.b@santabarraza.com
