Jesse Draxler

Jesse Draxler is an modern photomontage artist, born in 1981 in Wisconsin, USA. Many of his images are disturbing to he spectator and Draxler tends to deconstruct the classic idea of beauty through different techniques, either cutting up images digitally, making handmade collages or spilling ink over images in order to entice the viewer and make them wonder what’s beneath. He focuses mainly on editing portraits of people.

Image analysis

Draxler focuses on creating highly contrasting black and white images due to the fact he’s colour-blind and it allows him to express his work freely. He also felt that once he removed colour, his work became more conceptual and allowing for a stronger emotive response from spectators.

The layering of abstract shapes creates a human-like figure, perplexing the viewer. Elements of the original model for the photo are present throughout the image, making the viewer wonder why they’ve been covered. Is it a lack of identity? If so why? Is it the conditioning of society that’s stopping them expressing themselves?

The use of greyscale in the background and throughout the image aids in this questioning, as greyscale creates and maintains a melancholic atmosphere caused by the image. It also helps Draxler to create contours and layer the shapes whilst avoiding clashing that can be caused through coloured images. The lack of warm colours (ie-red and yellow) implies an absence of emotion in the subject, such as happiness and joy.