The Transients 1938

Phyllis de Lappe created this lithograph, "The Transients," around 1938. The image captures a family on the move, a visual shorthand for the dispossessed and the forgotten. The figures are stoic, yet vulnerable. The man's outstretched thumb signals their reliance on the kindness of strangers. The woman's gaze is downcast, her attention focused on the child in her arms. De Lappe made this print at a time when art institutions were questioning their social role. The government-funded WPA Federal Art Project encouraged artists to depict everyday life and social issues. "The Transients" speaks directly to the hardship of the Great Depression and the plight of displaced families, creating visual empathy for those often ignored. Art history isn't just about aesthetics; it involves understanding the economic, social, and political contexts that shape artistic production. Through sources like period newspapers, government documents, and artists' writings, we can appreciate the role of art as a form of social commentary and a reflection of its time.