Reportage Drawing

This book explores the evolution and significance of reportage drawing in contemporary society, highlighting its role in understanding complex social issues.

How does drawing influence our perception of truth and the visual world? Reportage Drawing delves into the enduring relevance of reportage drawing in today's dynamic media environment. This book presents an in-depth exploration of a practice that is not only provocative but also embraces mixed media and transdisciplinary approaches, all while reflecting the unique vision of the artist. Traditionally, reportage focused on the communicative role of images as mere records of events. However, contemporary artists, often operating outside the constraints of 19th and 20th-century commissioning structures, aim to capture experiential qualities of their chosen locations, often laden with personal and political significance.

In Reportage Drawing, artists are liberated from the conventional notion of drawing as being purely objective. Instead, they embrace subjectivity, fostering a rich dialogue with their subjects to convey critical narratives surrounding issues like protest, migration, war, corporate capitalism, and homelessness. Louis Netter provides a thoughtful distinction between contemporary reportage drawing and its historical roots, analyzing the aesthetics of sketches, the impact of caricature, and the essence of lived experience.

The book features notable artists such as Jill Gibbon, who clandestinely sketches at arms fairs, and Phoebe Glockner, who addresses violence against women through her provocative mixed media work. By showcasing various artistic perspectives, Reportage Drawing demonstrates how drawing can unveil new insights into people, places, and political realities, offering readers a profound understanding of the world through this artistic lens.