Schatten der Gesellschaft by Sebastian Lörscher
Sebastian Lörscher is a writer and illustrator based in Berlin. His award-winning work has been published by various publishers in Germany and Austria and includes graphic novels, illustrated books and illustrated reports. All of his works have a common thread — they tell stories about places and people that may seem peculiar at first, but are always intriguing and unique.
Schatten der Gesellschaft (“Shadows of Society”) is a book about life on the streets that is both beautifully designed and shockingly honest. The author and illustrator’s pictures and texts give a face and a voice to people who are rarely recognised or even ignored by politics and society. On his website, Lörscher explains his mission this way (translated from German by the contributor):
In the middle of winter, I took my sketchbook to places where homeless people sought shelter from the cold. I wanted to find out who they were, these people I often meet on the streets of Berlin. I sat with them, drew them and listened to them.
Franziska, used as a text typeface, keeps a low profile. It creates bold body text, but allows the expressive handwritten headlines and illustrations to take centre stage. The black and white spaces, yellow highlights and accents in the text and images create both contrast and connection. They direct the reader’s eye and create interest and empathy. An incredibly valuable book that is well worth reading!
